Objective and Subjective Cognitive Function, and Relations With Quality of Life and Psychological Distress

Abstract

Objective and subjective cognitive function have been associated with decreased quality of life and increased psychological distress in older adults. The present study examined relations of objective and subjective cognition with quality-of-life and mental-health outcomes in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The sample included 98 older adults with aMCI (92.5% male, age = 70.9±9.2 years). Measures included objective cognition (i.e., attention, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, executive function, and overall), subjective memory (Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire [MMQ]), quality of life (Dementia Quality of Life [DQoL]), and mental health (Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, and Penn State Worry Questionnaire). Objective and subjective cognition were weakly correlated (range |r| = .00–.23). Objective cognitive measures were largely uncorrelated with quality of life or mental health, with only two significant (p < .05) correlations between Processing Speed and Worry (r = -.24), and Overall Cognition and DQoL Aesthetics (r = .20). Subjective cognition was more strongly correlated with quality of life, including significant (p < .01) correlations between MMQ Abilities and DQoL Negative Affect (r = -.38), and MMQ Contentment and DQoL Positive Affect (r = .28). Additionally, MMQ Contentment and Abilities were significantly (p < .01) negatively correlated with all three mental-health outcomes (range |r| = .28–.43). This study demonstrated that subjective memory, particularly affect and self-appraisal regarding one’s memory capabilities, is more closely related to quality-of-life and mental-health outcomes than objective cognitive performance in an aMCI sample, and, therefore, may represent important targets for intervention.

The Effect of Chinese Square Dance Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Women With Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Mediating Effect of Mood Status and Quality of Life

“…In terms of quality of life, a study by Chandler et al reported a more significant effect of exercise (e.g., yoga) on memory-related quality of life compared to the support group (effect size = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.13 to 0.72) (31). The Nuzum et al study also confirmed that this effect was strongly associated with quality of life (r = −0.38, p < 0.01) (32). As confirmed by large-scale longitudinal studies, both depressed mood and poor quality of life can disrupt the normal lives of older adults with mild cognitive impairment and may further contribute to their cognitive decline (33)(34)(35).…”

Changes in self‐ and study partner–perceived cognitive functioning in relation to amyloid status and future clinical progression: Findings from the SCIENCe project

“…Moreover, there was no apparent association between changes in self‐perceived cognitive functioning developed and changes in objective cognitive performance. This could suggest that self‐perceived and objective cognitive functioning are not two sides of the same coin, as they seem to reflect distinct processes 44 . It is also conceivable that characteristics we did not consider here may have influenced the relationship between subjective and objective cognitive performance.…”

“…This could suggest that self-perceived and objective cognitive functioning are not two sides of the same coin, as they seem to reflect distinct processes. 44 It is also conceivable that characteristics we did not consider here may have influenced the relationship between subjective and objective cognitive performance.…”