Cognitive dysfunction predicts poorer emotion recognition in bariatric surgery candidates.
OBJECTIVE
Deficits in traditional cognitive domains (e.g. executive function and memory) are common in persons with severe obesity, but it is unclear if this pattern of dysfunction extends to social cognition. The present study examined whether cognitive impairment was associated with poorer emotion recognition in bariatric surgery candidates.


METHODS
One hundred sixteen bariatric surgery candidates (mean age = 43.62 ± 11.03; 81% female) completed the computerized Integneuro test battery as part of a larger study visit. In addition to assessing traditional cognitive domains, the Integneuro also includes an emotion recognition measure. This task presents 48 faces (eight different individuals depicting neutral, happiness, fear, sadness, anger and disgust), and participants must choose the correct verbal label from six expression options. Number of correct responses and average reaction time for correct responses served as primary dependent variables.


RESULTS
Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that older age, more maze errors, and history of hypertension predicted less accuracy in emotion recognition (adjustedR2= .22,F[3, 111] = 11.86,p< .001) and that slower switching of attention-digits, worse long-delay recall, and older age predicted speed of responses (adjustedR2= .26,F[3, 111] = 13.00,p< .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that cognitive dysfunction is associated with poorer performance on a computerized test of emotion recognition, consistent with those in persons with a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Additional work is needed to clarify the mechanisms and functional impact of these impairments, especially in relation to weight loss following bariatric surgery.
Kent State University Kent OH USA.
L
L
Manderino
Kent State University Kent OH USA.
M B
MB
Spitznagel
Weill Cornell Medical College New York NY USA.
G
G
Strain
Columbia University Medical Center New York NY USA.
M
M
Devlin
University of Florida Institute on Aging Gainesville FL USA.
R
R
Cohen
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Neuropsychiatric Research Institute Fargo ND USA.
R D
RD
Crosby
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Neuropsychiatric Research Institute Fargo ND USA.
J E
JE
Mitchell
Kent State University Kent OH USA.
J
J
Gunstad
Bariatric surgery; cognitive function; emotion recognition; obesity
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