Acute relationships between mental health and cognitive function during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal evidence from middle-aged and older US adults

Kobayashi, Lindsay C.; O'Shea, Brendan; Joseph, Carly; Finlay, Jessica

doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100097

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Remarkably, for cognitive functioning, only participants with the lowest depressive symptoms (measured on M1), the lowest and second lowest anxiety symptoms (measured on M2) and the lowest and second lowest social support (measured on M1) showed declines in subjective cognitive functioning. This is in line with other studies, linking depressive and anxiety symptoms [25] and low social support [16], [22] to declines in cognitive functioning. All other participants in this study showed no differences or even slight increases in cognitive functioning ratings compared to before the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…In a longitudinal study that started following older adults already before the pandemic, a steeper cognitive decline with time was observed since the pandemic, especially for memory and recall of word lists [23], [24]. Moreover, higher anxiety symptoms in older adults were related to higher impairments in subjective cognitive functioning [25]. So far, the sustained impact of the pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults remains unclear and seems to be in uenced by several protective and risk factors, such as depressive and anxiety symptoms, social network and resilience.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults

Pue

Gillebert

Dierckx

et al. 2023

Preprint

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In earlier survey research, we observed a severe impact of the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic on the subjective wellbeing, sleep and activity of adults aged 65 years or older in Flanders, Belgium. The impact on subjective cognitive functioning, however, was limited. Since then, periods of lockdown and periods with less strict regulations alternated, but social distancing remained, especially for older adults. To study the longer-term impact of the pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning, we re-assessed the older adults from the first measurement moment (n = 371) in a second (June-July 2020) and third (December 2020) wave of the survey. Results indicated that wellbeing fluctuated with the severity of the pandemic. Results for self-reported cognitive functioning were mixed. While participants indicated a slightly better general cognitive functioning at the end of the study, experienced problems with most cognitive subdomains significantly increased over time. The presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms influenced the longer-term impact of the pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning. Our study shows the long-lasting impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults, without full recovery from the first wave.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults

Pue

Gillebert

Dierckx

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…For instance, a recent study conducted in the US evaluated the mental health and cognition of adults aged 55 years and older over a 9-month period during the pandemic. The findings suggested that increased loneliness and social isolation had detrimental effects on cognitive perception ( Kobayashi et al, 2022 ). Similarly, a study conducted in the UK by Bland et al (2022) collected data from 92 participants aged 19 to 64 years through questionnaires to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on emotional and social cognition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with the decline in cognitive functioning in young adults

Murtaza,

Sultana,

Abualait

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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Coronaviruses have caused widespread disease and death worldwide, leading to the implementation of lockdown measures and the closure of educational institutions in various countries. This research aims to investigate the impact of social isolation on the cognitive functioning of young students. The study included 84 subjects, with 48 being socially isolated and 36 non-isolated individuals. The participants’ mental health was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), while cognitive functions were evaluated through attention-switching tasks (AST), pattern recognition memory (PRM), and choice reaction time (CRT) tests utilizing the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Battery (CANTAB) software. The socially isolated group had an average age of 21.3 ± 1.1 years, whereas the non-isolated group had an average age of 22.8 ± 2.0 years. The MMSE scores were 25.8 ± 1.6 for the socially isolated group and 28.6 ± 1.3 for the non-isolated group. In terms of cognitive functioning, there were significant differences (p = 0.000) observed in the values of AST correct latency for non-switching blocks (blocks 3 and 5) between the socially isolated group (608.1 ± 139.2) and the non-isolated group (499.5 ± 67.8). Similarly, the AST mean correct latency for switching blocks (block 7) was significantly different (p = 0.012) between the socially isolated group (784.4 ± 212.5) and the non-isolated group (671.8 ± 175.6). The socially isolated group exhibited significantly higher values in AST correct mean latency, AST congruent mean latency, AST incongruent mean latency, and AST percent mean correct trials compared to the non-isolated group. Additionally, the PRM mean percent correct significantly differed (p = 0.000) between the isolated group (81.3 ± 12.0) and the non-isolated group (91.9 ± 9.2). The isolated group also showed a higher CRT correct mean latency (482.4 ± 128.9) than the non-isolated group (451.0 ± 59.0), however the difference was not significant. In conclusion, social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decline in the cognitive functioning of young students.

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“…Such findings generalize to adults. Within-person higher-than-usual anxiety symptoms and COVID-19-related worries correlated with worse performance-based cognitive function across five time points in community adults [ 64 ]. Additionally, low (vs. high) social support accentuated the reciprocal links between EF deficits and posttraumatic stress symptoms [ 25 ].…”

Section: Dynamic Mutualism Theory Of Ef- and Anxiety-related Constructsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Executive Functioning Constructs in Anxiety, Obsessive–Compulsive, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Related Disorders

Zainal

Newman

2022

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Purpose of Review We synthesize theories proposing complex relations between cognitive functioning and anxiety-related concepts. We evaluate vulnerability theories suggesting that deficits in various cognitive functioning domains predict future anxiety-associated concepts. We examine scar theories asserting the opposite direction of effects (i.e., anxiety predicting cognitive dysfunction). Furthermore, we examine more novel frameworks on this topic. Recent Findings Reliable evidence exists for the scar and vulnerability theories. This includes mounting data on diverse anxiety symptoms predicting cognitive dysfunction (and conversely) unfolding at between- and within-person levels (dynamic mutualism theory). It also includes data on the stronger effects or central influence of anxiety (versus non-anxiety) symptoms on executive functioning (EF; i.e., higher-order cognitive control governing myriad thinking and action repertoires) versus non-EF domains and vice versa (network theory). In addition, it reviews emerging evidence that enhanced cognitive control can correlate with higher anxiety among children (overgeneralized control theory). Summary The generally inverse relations between anxiety symptoms and cognitive dysfunction are bidirectional and complex within and between persons. Plausible mediators and moderators merit more attention, including immune, metabolism, and neural markers and the social determinants of health.

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Acute relationships between mental health and cognitive function during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal evidence from middle-aged and older US adults

Cited by 13 publications

References 50 publications

The longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults

The longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and cognitive functioning of older adults

Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with the decline in cognitive functioning in young adults

Executive Functioning Constructs in Anxiety, Obsessive–Compulsive, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Related Disorders

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