Effects of stress on emotional memory in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and in healthy elderly

Abstract

Objective: We aimed at examining the relation between stress markers (cortisol levels and state anxiety) with memory for emotional information in AD patients and in healthy elderly. Design, Setting, and participants: Baseline and changes in stress markers during memory testing were assessed in a sample of 98 elderly (46 mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease patients and 52 controls) recruited from dementia day centers and adult day centers, respectively. Measurements: Salivary cortisol, state anxiety, and measures of immediate recall and delayed recognition using the International Affective Pictures System. Results: Patients’ performance in memory tasks was not associated with either cortisol levels or anxiety. In controls, quadratic and linear associations were found between cortisol and immediate recall scores (total and bias, respectively). Besides, quadratic and linear associations were observed between anxiety and delayed recognition scores (total and bias, respectively). Conclusions: The emotional memory of patients with Alzheimer´s disease is not related to stress markers as healthy older adults’ is. Future studies that include moderating variables are needed to explain the lack of association.