Research article summary (published 15 Sep 2009):

Associations between psychological distress, learning, and memory in spouse caregivers of older adults.

Full Abstract

Family caregivers of older adults experience high levels of chronic stress and psychological distress, which are known to impair cognition. Very little research, however, has assessed the impact of caregiving on key cognitive outcomes such as learning and memory. This study compared 16 spouse caregivers with 16 matched controls using standardized neuropsychological measures of learning, episodic memory, and working memory. Analyses compared groups on these cognitive outcomes and examined whether psychological distress mediated group differences in cognition. Results indicated that caregivers were significantly more distressed than non-caregivers and exhibited deficits in learning, recall of episodic information after short and long delays, and working memory. Furthermore, the majority of group differences in cognitive outcomes were mediated by psychological distress. This study adds to a small body of literature demonstrating impaired cognitive functioning among family caregivers. It also suggests that distress is one of a number of possible underlying mechanisms leading to disruptions in learning and memory in this population.

Author information

Author/s: Mackenzie, Corey S (CS); Wiprzycka, Ursula J (UJ); Hasher, Lynn (L); Goldstein, David (D);

Affiliation: Department of Counselling Psychology at OISE, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canadacorey_mackenzie(-atsign-)umanitoba.ca

Grants: R37 AG 04306 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS) ; (Agency:Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences (J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Nov; vol 64 (issue 6) : pp 742-6

Dates: Created 2009/10/19; Completed 2009/10/27;

PMID: 19762451, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/27/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aged Aged, 80 and over Aging - psychology Attention Caregivers - psychology Cost of Illness Depression - diagnosis; psychology Female Humans Male

Memory, Short-Term Mental Recall Middle Aged Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data Problem Solving Psychometrics Reference Values Serial Learning Stress, Psychological - complications; psychology Wechsler Scales - statistics & numerical data

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