Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
Publisher
IOS Press
Source Publication
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports
Source ISSN
2542-4823
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.3233/ADR-230166
Abstract
Background:
Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) may be an early indicator of future cognitive decline. However, findings comparing SCC and objective cognitive performance have varied, particularly in the memory domain. Even less well established is the relationship between subjective and objective complaints in non-amnestic domains, such as in executive functioning, despite evidence indicating very early changes in these domains. Moreover, particularly early changes in both amnestic and non-amnestic domains are apparent in those carrying the Apolipoprotein-E ɛ4 allele, a primary genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Objective:
This study investigated the role of the ɛ4 allele in the consistency between subjective and objective executive functioning in 54 healthy, cognitively intact, middle-aged and older adults.
Methods:
Participants (Mage = 64.07, SD = 9.27, range = 48–84; ɛ4+ = 18) completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) Executive Dysfunction Scale (EXECDYS) to measure subjective executive functioning (SEF) and multiple executive functioning tasks, which were condensed into a single factor.
Results:
After accounting for age, depression, and anxiety, objective executive functioning performance significantly predicted SEF. Importantly, ɛ4 moderated this effect. Specifically, those carrying the ɛ4 allele had significantly less accurate self-awareness of their executive functioning compared to ɛ4 non-carriers.
Conclusions:
Utilizing an approach that integrates self-evaluation of executive functioning with objective neurocognitive assessment may help identify the earliest signs of impending cognitive decline, particularly in those with genetic risk for AD. Such an approach could sensitively determine those most prone to future cognitive decline prior to symptom onset, when interventions could be most effective.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Evans, Sarah A.; Paitel, Elizabeth R.; Bhasin, Riya; and Nielson, Kristy A., "Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease Alters Perceived Executive Dysfunction in Cognitively Healthy Middle-Aged and Older Adults" (2024). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 615.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/615
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports, Vol. 8, No. 1 (2024): 267-279. DOI. © The Author(s) published by IOS Press.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC 4.0).