Dynamic influence of mood on subjective cognitive complaints in mild cognitive impairment: A time series network analysis approach.

OBJECTIVES

Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) are common and clinically relevant in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but are intertwined with mood states. Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) of SCC and network analyses we sought to uncover the links between mood and SCC and how these links may vary by the presence or absence of MCI.

DESIGN

We used EMA to collect intensive longitudinal data. In addition to analyzing the data at an aggregate level to estimate between-person associations of affect and SCC variables, we used time series analyses to estimate contemporaneous and time-lagged relations between the variables.

SETTING

EMA survey and mobile cognitive testing in subjects' natural environments.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 100 participants, 48 with Normal Cognition (NC), and 52 with MCI.

MEASUREMENTS

Participants completed 30-day EMA protocols in which surveys sampling SCC and moods were delivered 3 times per day.

RESULTS

The association between SCC (as measured by EMA) and standard in-lab measures of SCC was significant in MCI, but not in NC. Despite no average level differences in severity of SCC, there was a strong association between negative affect (as measured by EMA) with SCC in NCs compared to MCI.

CONCLUSIONS

EMA maybe a useful and valid approach to measuring SCCs in MCI. Network analyses indicated that negative affect was linked with later SCCs. This finding was strong in persons with NC than in persons with MCI. The basis of the attenuated association between negative affect and SCCs in MCI deserves further study.