Repetitive negative thinking, self-reflection, and perceived cognitive dysfunction in older adults: a cross-sectional...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cognitive dysfunction, including Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, is a growing concern in aging populations.
• Identifying factors that maintain cognitive function and delay cognitive decline is crucial.
• Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and reflection are cognitive styles that may influence subjective cognitive dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the roles of RNT and reflection in subjective cognitive dysfunction among older adults.
• To investigate the association of RNT and reflection with depressive symptoms.
• To explore potential sex differences in the relationship between these cognitive styles and cognitive dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 276 older adults (137 male, 139 female) in Japan.
• Participants completed measures of RNT (RRS-brooding), reflection (RRS-reflection), depressive symptoms, and self-reported cognitive dysfunction.
• Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the associations, controlling for depressive symptoms.

Main Results:

• Higher reflection, but not RNT, was significantly associated with greater subjective cognitive dysfunction (β=0.28, p=.03), even after controlling for depressive symptoms.
• The association between reflection and cognitive dysfunction exhibited significant sex differences.
• Reflection significantly predicted cognitive dysfunction in females (β=0.46, p=.01) but not in males.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the importance of differentiating between subtypes of repetitive thoughts when studying perceived cognitive dysfunction.
• Sex differences play a significant role in the relationship between reflection and cognitive dysfunction.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and inform prevention and treatment strategies for cognitive dysfunction.