SEARCHCOHORTneurology, geriatrics

cohort·neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry, public health, epidemiology·PMC10115807

The neuropsychology of healthy aging: the positive context of the University of the Third Age during the COVID-19 pandemic

Scientific Reports · 7 authors, 5 centres

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TL;DR

This longitudinal cohort study of 39 healthy older adults found that cognitive performance was stable or improved on several measures when comparing assessments from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that continued engagement in social and educational activities may have had a protective effect.

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The central result was that participants showed significant improvements in global cognitive ability (ACE-R), executive function (MoCA), and language comprehension (TT), with stable performance on memory, attention, and global cognition (MMSE), and stable physical status. The authors suggest that continued participation in social and educational activities through the University of the Third Age may have provided cognitive reserve and contributed to these positive outcomes. The findings suggest that engaging in structured activities may help maintain cognitive function in older adults during periods of social restriction, but results may not generalize to all older populations.

STUDY TYPE

cohort

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neurology

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10115807

The neuropsychology of healthy aging: the positive context of the University of the Third Age during the COVID-19 pandemic

Scientific Reports

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Older adults have been reported to have increased susceptibility to the adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as fatal outcomes, cognitive decline, and changes in physical and/or mental health. However, few studies have examined neuropsychological changes by comparing measurements before and during the pandemic in healthy older people. In addition, no longitudinal studies have examined whether older adults may have responded positively to the pandemic. We examined these issues through a 2-year neuropsychological study before and during the pandemic period. Results showed that scores before and during the pandemic were the same in memory and attention, whereas global cognitive, executive, and language functions improved. Participants also showed no longitudinal changes in depression, hypomania, and disinhibition, while apathy and, to a lesser extent, anxiety increased significantly. To examine possible signs of pandemic-related emotional (dys)regulation, subjects were shown images at follow-up that recalled the most dramatic lockdown phase while heart rate variability was recorded. Higher apathy was predicted by poorer global cognitive performance, increased anxiety, and emotional dysregulation as measured by a higher ratio of low-to-high frequency heart rate variability. Thus, preserved global cognition appears to play a protective role against the effects of pandemic-related anxiety and emotional dysregulation on apathy. Subject terms: Human behaviour, Cognitive ageing

CITATION EXPORT

Martina Amanzio, Giuseppina Elena Cipriani, Massimo Bartoli et al.. The neuropsychology of healthy aging: the positive context of the University of the Third Age during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific Reports. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33513-4

AUTHORS

7 · 5 CENTRES

Martina Amanzio, Giuseppina Elena Cipriani, Massimo Bartoli, Nicola Canessa, Francesca Borghesi, Alice Chirico, Pietro Cipresso

1Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10024 Turin, Italy
2ICoN Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
3Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of Pavia Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
4Department of Psychology, Research Center in Communication Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
5Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20145 Milan, Italy