title: Psychological well-being in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive impairments associated with aging and dementia are major sources of burden, deterioration in life quality, and reduced psychological well-being (PWB). Preventative measures to both reduce incident disease and improve PWB in those afflicted are increasingly targeting individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at early disease stage. However, there is very limited information regarding the relationships between early cognitive changes and memory concern, and life quality and PWB in adults with MCI; furthermore, PWB outcomes are too commonly overlooked in intervention trials. The purpose of this study was therefore to empirically test a theoretical model of PWB in MCI in order to inform clinical intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline data from a convenience sample of 100 community-dwelling adults diagnosed with MCI enrolled in the Study of Mental Activity and Regular Training (SMART) trial were collected. A series of regression analyses were performed to develop a reduced model, then hierarchical regression with the Baron Kenny test of mediation derived the final three-tiered model of PWB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant predictors of PWB were subjective memory concern, cognitive function, evaluations of quality of life, and negative affect, with a final model explaining 61% of the variance of PWB in MCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our empirical findings support a theoretical tiered model of PWB in MCI and contribute to an understanding of the way in which early subtle cognitive deficits impact upon PWB. Multiple targets and entry points for clinical intervention were identified. These include improving the cognitive difficulties associated with MCI. Additionally, these highlight the importance of reducing memory concern, addressing low mood, and suggest that improving a person's quality of life may attenuate the negative effects of depression and anxiety on PWB in this cohort.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CheBA), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Regenerative Neuroscience Group, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Neuroscience Group, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CheBA), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Perminder S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sachdev
authors.affiliation: Exercise Health and Performance Faculty Research Group, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia ; Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Maria A Fiatarone
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
keywords: memory concern; positive aging; quality of life