Psychological characteristics and functional abilities in older adults with subjective cognitive complaints: A...

Positive psychological characteristics may help to bolster daily functioning in older adults even in the presence of subjective or subtle objective cognitive weaknesses. The purpose of the present study was to examine which specific psychological characteristics may contribute to better functional abilities, independent of cognitive performance, among a sample of older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

Participants included 277 older adults recruited from the community who were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial examining the impact of training in memory support strategies and healthy lifestyle behaviors. The current study was based on baseline data prior to intervention randomization.

Linear regression was used to assess associations between positive psychological characteristics (positive affect, life satisfaction, purpose in life, resiliency, self-management of health, and perceived competence), one negative psychological characteristic (negative affect), and functional abilities controlling for demographic variables. A final model assessed for associations between functional abilities and any of the significant characteristics identified in the linear regressions while controlling for global cognition (measured with the Modified Neuropsychological Test Battery composite score), depression, and demographic variables.

In the individual regressions, most of the psychological characteristics were significantly associated with functional abilities. In the final model, positive and negative affect remained significantly associated with functional abilities.

This is one of the first studies to show that greater positive affect is associated with better functional abilities, even after controlling for objective cognitive performance. Positive affect in older adults may represent a modifiable target for intervention.