Emotional Memory Deficit and its Psychophysiological Correlate in Family Caregivers of Patients With Dementia

Abstract

This study examined the cortisol secretion pattern and declarative memory performance of dementia caregivers. An illustrated story paradigm memory task was used to evaluate the effects of emotional arousal on memory and assess the caregivers' cognitive compensation capacity. Younger (n=19) and elderly (n=24) noncaregivers and elderly caregivers (n=14) took part in 2 experiments to elucidate the effects of aging (experiment 1) and chronic stress (experiment 2) on memory performance and cortisol levels. Each group was divided in 2 subgroups: one that was exposed to an emotionally neutral story, and one that was exposed to a similar, but emotionally arousing story. Participants completed a multiple-choice questionnaire in the test session. Salivary cortisol samples were collected at 8:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 10:00 PM, 1 day after memory testing. Experiment 1 showed that, despite an age-related memory deficit, arousal manipulation produced a similar effect in both age groups. Experiment 2 showed that, in addition to the characteristic memory decline of aging, elderly caregivers did not benefit from emotionally arousing material as their noncaregiver counterparts did. This impairment correlated with elevated nighttime cortisol levels, indicating a potential worsening impact of caregiver burden on age-related cognitive decline.

Mental health in familial caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients: are the effects of chronic stress on cognition inevitable?

“…Compromise of caregiver's mental health was also indicated by the results of prefrontal and temporal lobe-dependent tasks. Executive function (inhibitory response capacity), attention, working memory and declarative memory were impaired, corroborating previous results from ours (Corrêa et al, 2015a(Corrêa et al, , 2016Palma et al,2011) and other research groups (see Allen et al, 2017 for a review). Higher nadir cortisol/DHEA ratios and lower BDNF levels accompanied these cognitive dysfunctions.…”

Physiological and functional consequences of caregiving for relatives with dementia

“…Three studies evaluated both physiological markers and sleep parameters as outcome variables (Mills , et al , 2009; von Kanel , et al , 2010; von Kanel , et al , 2012c). Performance on cognitive tests or diagnosis of cognitive impairment were used as outcome measures in seven of the selected studies (Caswell , et al , 2003; de Vugt , et al , 2006; Norton , et al , 2010; Oken , et al , 2011; Palma , et al , 2011; Vitaliano , et al , 2005; Vitaliano , et al , 2009). Specific outcome measures and major findings for each study are described in Tables 2 and 3 (studies assessing physiological markers), Table 4 (studies assessing sleep variables), and Table 5 (studies assessing cognitive function).…”

“…Only one study investigated age effects in producing changes associated with caregiving (Palma , et al , 2011). Furthermore, the majority of DCGs were spouses or partners of the PWD, making it difficult to generalize the findings to DCGs who are children or other PWD relatives.…”

Cuidar de um familiar idoso dependente no domicílio: reflexões para os profissionais da saúde

“…29 O estresse crônico pode promover alterações imunológicas no familiar cuidador que contribuem para o aumento da sua vulnerabilidade a doenças, 30 além de poder acarretar alterações de suas habilidades cognitivas, que por sua vez comprometem o cuidado prestado ao idoso, bem como o seu autocuidado. 31,32 Por causa dessas consequências, a família pode se sobrecarregar financeiramente, devido os gastos com a saúde do idoso e também do cuidador.…”