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P4‐081: BLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE REACTIONS OF ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA PATIENTS TO DIFFERENT EMOTIONAL STIMULI
Author(s) -
Sener Ceylin G.,
Sener Cansu G.,
Ozen Hulya,
Ozbabalik Demet
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.2484
Subject(s) - blood pressure , medicine , dementia , pulse pressure , surprise , endocrinology , cardiology , audiology , psychology , communication , disease
Background: Roughly 4% of the general population embodies personality, language, and other cognitive traits that characterize a subclinical “broad autism phenotype” (BAP) which qualitatively resembles, but is milder than autism spectrum disorder. Among the normal aging population, individuals with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) have a high prevalence of psychological distress leading us to predict that BAP would be associated with increasing SCI in the context of otherwise normal aging.Methods: The Autism Spectrum Quotient questionnaire (AQ) is a self-administered 50 item questionnaire whose questions are categorized into five domains comprised of 10 questions each: social skills, attention switching, attention to detail, communication, and ideas. Answers are dichotomized as either agree or disagree. Each item is scored as a “1” if the individual endorses the autistic trait so that scores can range from 0-50. Scores of 23 and above are the threshold for BAP. The AQ was completed by 419 consecutive members of the Arizona APOE Cohort, a longitudinal study of cognitive aging in which participants undergo detailed neuropsychological testing every two years. SCI was assessed with self and informant versions of the Multidimensional Assessment of Neurodegenerative Symptoms questionnaire (MANS). The MANS and auditory verbal learning test (AVLT) scores were standardized in the longitudinal analysis. Results: 45 individuals scored 23 or above and are categorized as AQ+. The remaining 374 are AQ-. The AQ+ group had disproportionately more men (p1⁄4.0005) and a higher proportion of multiple divorces (p1⁄4.01), but no differences in age, education, parental status, occupational status, or income category. All comparisons were corrected for sex. At entry, both MANS-self (p<.0001) and MANS-informant (p<.0001) scores were higher in the AQ+ group despite normal neuropsychological scores. Longitudinally, after age 60, the AQ+ group had a greater annual rate of increase in MANS-self (but not informant) scores (0.05 vs 0.02; diff 1⁄4 0.03; 95%CI: 0.004, 0.05; p1⁄40.02) yet both groups showed only similar mild decline on the AVLTafter age 60 (annual change -0.02 vs -0.02; diff 1⁄4 0.01; 95%CI: -0.01, 0.03; p1⁄40.43) (figure). Conclusions: Within the setting of normal cognitive aging, individuals who meet criteria for the BAP have escalating SCI with age.