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Research article
Repetitive Negative Thinking is associated with Subjective Cognitive Decline in older adults: a cross-sectional study
Marco Schlosser
University College London
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0634-0749
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Psychiatry.
Background: In the absence of a cure or effective treatment for dementia, attention has shifted towards identifying risk factors for prevention. Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) describes self-perceived worsening of cognition despite unimpaired performance on neuropsychological tests. SCD has been associated with an increased dementia risk and steeper memory decline. Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process that manifests across several mental health disorders associated with increased vulnerability to dementia. RNT has thus been proposed as a candidate marker of risk for dementia and, relatedly, could contribute to the manifestation of SCD. We aimed to investigate the relationship between SCD and RNT alongside other proposed psychological risk/protective factors for dementia and cognitive decline.
Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey, 491 older adults (mean=64.9 years, SD=4.2; 63.1% female) completed measures of RNT, personality traits, purpose in life, worry, rumination, and meditation practice. SCD was assessed continuously via self-perceived cognitive function (Neuro-QoL) and categorically via endorsement (yes/no) of memory complaints. Regression models, using a stepwise backwards elimination, were built to assess associations between SCD, demographics, and all risk/protective factors.
Results: A total of 24.2% of participants reported memory complaints. In the final prediction models, RNT was the only psychological variable associated with lower self-perceived cognitive function and with a higher likelihood of memory complaints.
Conclusions: This study empirically corroborates the theoretical relationship between SCD and RNT. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish whether RNT is a prodromal symptom or an independent risk factor, and whether RNT can be a promising construct for future research on SCD and dementia risk.
Keywords
subjective cognitive decline, repetitive negative thinking, dementia, psychological risk factors, cognitive function, memory complaints
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 21 Sep, 2020
Published
On 09 Oct, 2020
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 19 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 18 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 26 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 14 May, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 14 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 27 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 22 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 22 Apr, 2020
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On 08 Apr, 2020
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On 07 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Apr, 2020
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Subject Areas
Psychiatry
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Psychiatry. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Repetitive Negative Thinking is associated with Subjective Cognitive Decline in older adults: a cross-sectional study
Marco Schlosser
University College London
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0634-0749
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 2
Posted 21 Sep, 2020
Published
On 09 Oct, 2020
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 19 Sep, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 18 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 26 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 14 May, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 14 May, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 27 Apr, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 22 Apr, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 22 Apr, 2020
Editor assigned
On 08 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Apr, 2020
First submitted
On 06 Apr, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychiatry
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Psychiatry.
Background: In the absence of a cure or effective treatment for dementia, attention has shifted towards identifying risk factors for prevention. Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) describes self-perceived worsening of cognition despite unimpaired performance on neuropsychological tests. SCD has been associated with an increased dementia risk and steeper memory decline. Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process that manifests across several mental health disorders associated with increased vulnerability to dementia. RNT has thus been proposed as a candidate marker of risk for dementia and, relatedly, could contribute to the manifestation of SCD. We aimed to investigate the relationship between SCD and RNT alongside other proposed psychological risk/protective factors for dementia and cognitive decline.
Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey, 491 older adults (mean=64.9 years, SD=4.2; 63.1% female) completed measures of RNT, personality traits, purpose in life, worry, rumination, and meditation practice. SCD was assessed continuously via self-perceived cognitive function (Neuro-QoL) and categorically via endorsement (yes/no) of memory complaints. Regression models, using a stepwise backwards elimination, were built to assess associations between SCD, demographics, and all risk/protective factors.
Results: A total of 24.2% of participants reported memory complaints. In the final prediction models, RNT was the only psychological variable associated with lower self-perceived cognitive function and with a higher likelihood of memory complaints.
Conclusions: This study empirically corroborates the theoretical relationship between SCD and RNT. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish whether RNT is a prodromal symptom or an independent risk factor, and whether RNT can be a promising construct for future research on SCD and dementia risk.