Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41021459›Full record

ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences2025

Diminished preparatory physiological responses in people with dementia: associations with caregiver health and relationship quality.

Kuan-Hua Chen, Julian A Scheffer, Enna Chen, Claire I Yee, Jenna L Wells, Sandy J Lwi, Kevin Grimm, Jennifer Merrilees, Robert W Levenson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kuan-Hua ChenDepartment of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-6068-9706
Julian A SchefferDepartment of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-8216-193X
Enna ChenDepartment of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-8930-0661
Claire I YeeDepartment of Quantitative Health Science, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-1601-9163
Jenna L WellsDepartment of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-4240-7015
Sandy J LwiVA Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-2904-7078
Kevin GrimmDepartment of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-8576-4469
Jennifer MerrileesMemory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-0907-0139
Robert W LevensonDepartment of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-2036-793X

Funding

TDP-43 Loss-of-Function: Biology to BiomarkersP01AG019724 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI Jennifer Merrilees · 2002 to 2026
$67.2M
Influence of Interpersonal Connectedness in Spousal Care Dyads on Early Progression of ADRF1AG096386 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · PI CHEN, KUAN-HUA · 2025 to 2025
$3.2M
Burden, Depression, and Health in Dementia Caregivers: The Role of EmotionR01AG041762 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · PI LEVENSON, ROBERT WAYNE · 2012 to 2016
$2.8M
Behavioral and physiological linkage in people with frontotemporal dementia and spousal caregiversR00AG059947 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER · PI CHEN, KUAN-HUA · 2023 to 2025
$723k
NIA NIH HHS P01 AG019724NIA NIH HHS P01AG019724NIA NIH HHS R00 AG059947NIA NIH HHS R00AG059947NIA NIH HHS R01 AG041762NIA NIH HHS R01AG041762NIA NIH HHS RF1 AG096386NIA NIH HHS RF1AG096386
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesEmotional impairments in people with dementia can be taxing for family caregivers. However, caregivers differ in their resilience to these challenges. We previously found that, compared to healthy controls and people with Alzheimer's disease, people with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) have smaller physiological responses when anticipating upcoming emotional stimuli. This impairment may leave these people with FTLD unprepared for upcoming emotional stimuli because they cannot mount responses needed for appropriate behaviors, which may create stress and difficulties for caregivers. We examined (a) whether smaller preparatory physiological responses in people with dementia are associated with lower emotional well-being and physical functioning in caregivers; and (b) whether these associations are moderated by the dyads' relationship quality.

methodsA total of 158 individuals with FTLD or Alzheimer's disease and their family caregivers participated. Preparatory physiological responses in people with dementia were quantified as decreases in cardiac interbeat intervals from baseline to an instruction period, during which they were told they would be watching an upcoming emotional film. Caregivers self-reported their emotional well-being, physical functioning, and relationship quality with the people with dementia.

resultsSmaller preparatory physiological responses in people with dementia were associated with lower emotional well-being (but not physical functioning) in caregivers. This association was moderated by relationship quality (i.e., weakened for caregivers in higher-quality relationships). DISCUSSION: Findings advance understanding of risk and resilience factors for negative caregiver outcomes. Positive interpersonal processes in high-quality relationships (e.g., positive appraisal of aberrant behaviors) may buffer caregivers from the impact of emotional impairments in people with dementia.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCaregiversDementiaEmotionsFrontotemporal Lobar DegenerationHeart RateInterpersonal RelationsAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedAffectDyadPsychophysiologyResilienceRisk

Identifiers

PMID41021459
PMCPMC12613254

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.