title: Empty-nest-related psychological distress is associated with progression of brain white matter lesions and cognitive impairment in the elderly.
abstract: This study evaluated the association between empty-nest-related psychological distress and the progression of white matter lesions (WMLs) and cognitive impairment in 219 elderly subjects aged 60 years or over. Psychological distress was assessed using the University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Short-Form. Cognitive function was evaluated using the MMSE and MoCA. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. After 5.2-year follow-up, the reductions in MMSE and MoCA scores and the increases in periventricular (P)WMH, deep (D)WMH, and total WMH volumes in the empty-nest elderly were greater than those in the non-empty-nest elderly (P < 0.05). The reduced MMSE and MoCA scores and increased volumes of PWMH and total WMH in the empty-nest elderly living alone were greater than those in the empty-nest elderly living with a spouse (P < 0.05). UCLA-LS and GDS scores were significantly and independently associated with reduced MMSE and MoCA scores and the increased volumes of PWMH, DWMH, and total WMH. The results indicate that empty-nest-related psychological distress is associated with progression of WMLs and cognitive impairment in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhangqiu, Shandong 250200, China.|Cardio-Cerebrovascular Control and Research Center, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250062, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Service, Lanshan District People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong, 276002, China.
authors.forename: Yuanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Cerebrovascular Control and Research Center, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250062, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Cerebrovascular Control and Research Center, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250062, China.
authors.forename: Yingxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Cerebrovascular Control and Research Center, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250062, China.
authors.forename: Yutao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250000, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Cerebrovascular Control and Research Center, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250062, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Cardio-Cerebrovascular Control and Research Center, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250062, China.
authors.forename: Zhendong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*