Alexithymia in Alzheimer's Disease

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Alexithymia, the inability to identify and express emotions, is linked to cognitive deficits.
• Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves cognitive and emotional disturbances, yet alexithymia in AD is understudied.
• Previous studies suggest higher alexithymia scores in AD patients compared to healthy individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and extent of alexithymia in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• To compare alexithymia features between mild AD patients and a healthy control group.
• To explore correlations between alexithymia, cognitive function, and mood in mild AD.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated 54 participants (27 mild AD, 27 controls) using the Shalling Sifneos Psychosomatic Scale (SSPS-R) and neuropsychological tests.
• Employed non-parametric statistical analyses, including Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests.
• Conducted post hoc analyses using Fisher's test for individual SSPS-R items.

Main Results:

• No significant overall difference in alexithymia scores (SSPS-R) was found between mild AD and control groups.
• A significant correlation was observed between SSPS-R scores and mood state in both groups.
• Post hoc analysis revealed AD patients reported more difficulty finding words for feelings, imagination, and externally oriented thinking.

Conclusions:

• The study did not confirm the hypothesis of higher alexithymia in mild AD patients, contradicting some prior findings.
• While overall scores were similar, specific alexithymic traits related to emotional expression and cognition were more pronounced in the AD group.
• Findings suggest a nuanced relationship between alexithymia and mild AD, particularly concerning emotional processing and cognitive-affective interplay.