Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute of Turin, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2013 Jan;19(1):63-72. doi: 10.1017/S1355617712000896. Epub 2012 Sep 20.
The present study analyzed the awareness of deficits in 117 mild Alzheimer's disease participants. Since few studies have examined the cognitive and behavioral domains of reduced awareness in detail, we performed a domain-specific assessment using the Awareness of deficit Questionnaire - Dementia scale with the novel aim of describing the relationship with everyday executive dysfunction. Through the use of the subtests of the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome, we hypothesized that executive cognitive functions may play an important role in the reduced awareness of deficits. We also considered other variables of interest to provide a novel comprehensive explanation of this phenomenon. Our first approach to the study was a factor analysis considering the role of these variables in the awareness of deficits; subsequently, regression analysis models were used to define which variables were associated with a reduction of awareness in cognitive and behavioral domains. In particular, the factors retained from the factor analysis, in terms of inhibition, self-monitoring, set-shifting, and mood orientation changes, appear to be important skills for awareness of instrumental activities of daily living (R(2) = .32). We also found hypo manic mood orientation and a tendency through apathy to be prominent indications of reduced behavioral awareness (R(2) = .13).
本研究分析了 117 名轻度阿尔茨海默病患者对缺陷的认知。由于很少有研究详细检查了认知和行为领域的降低意识，我们使用意识缺陷问卷 - 痴呆量表进行了特定领域的评估，目的是描述与日常执行功能障碍的关系。通过使用行为执行功能障碍评估测验的子测验，我们假设执行认知功能可能在缺陷认知降低中起重要作用。我们还考虑了其他相关变量，以提供对这种现象的新颖全面的解释。我们对该研究的第一个方法是考虑这些变量在缺陷认知中的作用的因素分析；随后，使用回归分析模型来定义哪些变量与认知和行为领域的意识降低相关。特别是，从因素分析中保留的抑制、自我监测、定势转移和情绪取向变化等因素似乎是对日常生活工具性活动意识的重要技能（R² =.32）。我们还发现，轻度躁狂情绪取向和通过冷漠倾向是行为意识降低的突出指标（R² =.13）。
