The NIH Cognitive and Emotional Health Project: Report of the Critical Evaluation Study Committee

Hendrie, Hugh C.; Albert, Marilyn S.; Butters, Meryl A.; Gao, Sujuan; Knopman, David S.; Launer, Lenore J.; Yaffe, Kristine; Cuthbert, Bruce N.; Edwards, Emmeline; Wagster, Molly V.

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2005.11.004

« Previous Next »Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Volume 2, Issue 1 , Pages 12-32, January 2006

The NIH Cognitive and Emotional Health Project:

Report of the Critical Evaluation Study Committee

Hugh C. Hendrie (Chair)
- Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel: 317-630-2602; fax: 317-287-3798
Marilyn S. Albert
- Johns Hopkins University, Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD, USA
Meryl A. Butters
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Sujuan Gao
- Indiana University Department of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
David S. Knopman
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Neurology, Rochester, MN, USA
Lenore J. Launer
- National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
Kristine Yaffe
- University of California, Department of Psychiatry, San Francisco, CA, USA
Bruce N. Cuthbert
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- This article was written by authors in their capacity as NIH employees, but the views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent those of the NIH.
Emmeline Edwards
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
- This article was written by authors in their capacity as NIH employees, but the views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent those of the NIH.
Molly V. Wagster
- National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
- This article was written by authors in their capacity as NIH employees, but the views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent those of the NIH.

Abstract

Background

The Cognitive and Emotional Health Project (CEHP) seeks to identify the demographic, social, and biological determinants of cognitive and emotional health in the older adult. As part of the CEHP, a critical evaluation study committee was formed to assess the state of epidemiological research on demographic, social, and biological determinants of cognitive and emotional health.

Methods

Criteria for inclusion in the survey were large cohort studies, longitudinal in design, participants predominantly 65 years or older, with measurements of both cognition and emotion, and information on a wide variety of demographic, psychosocial, and biological factors. North American and European studies, which met these criteria, were selected for the review. Outcome measures included cognition, cognitive decline, and cognitive function. For emotion, symptoms included depression and anxiety, positive and negative affect, subjective well being, mastery, and resilience.

Results

Ninety-six papers were identified that addressed cognitive and emotional outcomes. A large variety of risk factors were consistently identified with cognitive outcomes, particularly those previously associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. There was considerable overlap between risk factors for cognitive and emotional outcomes.

Conclusion

This review identifies a large number of lifestyle and health behaviors that alter the risk for maintenance of cognitive and emotional health. Large longitudinal cohort studies are a unique source to explore factors associated with cognitive and emotional health. Secondary analyses of these studies should be encouraged as should the development of standardized questionnaires to measure cognitive and emotional health. Future research in this field should study cognitive and emotional health simultaneously.

Keywords: Cognition , Emotion , Cognitive decline , Depressive symptoms , Anxiety symptoms , Risk factors , Education , Cardiovascular , Psychosocial , Physical activity , Chronic illness , Genetic