The psychological impact of disclosing amyloid status to Japanese elderly: A preliminary study on asymptomatic patients with subjective cognitive decline

Taisei Wake, Hajime Tabuchi, Kei Funaki, Daisuke Ito, Bun Yamagata, Takahito Yoshizaki, Masashi Kameyama, Tadaki Nakahara, Koji Murakami, Masahiro Jinzaki, Masaru Mimura

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In Japan, 4.6 million people are living with dementia and the number is expected to rise to 7 million by 2025. Amyloid-β (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) is used for cognitively normal Japanese people with or without subjective cognitive decline (SCD) for the purpose of clinical trials or diagnosis. Nevertheless, no empirical studies have been conducted on the safety of disclosing amyloid status to such populations. We conducted amyloid PET imaging on 42 participants (Aβ positive (n = 10) and negative (n = 32)). State anxiety and depression were measured at pre- and post-disclosure, and test-related distress at post-disclosure. Mean state anxiety and depression scores were below the cut-off through pre- and post-disclosure in the Aβ positive and negative groups. State anxiety and depression did not change over time and were not different between groups. Mean test-related distress scores were within normal limits at post-disclosure in both groups. No significant difference was found between groups. Disclosing Aβ positive results did not cause greater mood disturbance than negative results in a short period of time. The short-term psychological safety of disclosing Aβ PET results to asymptomatic Japanese adults with SCD was indicated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)635-639
Number of pages5
JournalInternational Psychogeriatrics
Volume30
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 May 1

Keywords

  • Alzheimer disease
  • biomarkers
  • ethics
  • memory clinics
  • positron emission tomography (PET)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Gerontology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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