Abstract
BackgroundAs with cognitive function, the ability to recognize emotions changes with age. In the literature regarding the relationship between recognition of emotion and cognitive function during aging, the effects of predictors such as aging, emotional state, and cognitive domains on emotion recognition are unclear. This study was performed to clarify the cognitive functions underlying recognition of emotional facial expressions, and to evaluate the effects of depressive mood on recognition of emotion in elderly subjects, as well as to reproduce the effects of aging on the recognition of emotional facial expressions.Materials and MethodsA total of 26 young (mean age = 20.9 years) and 30 elderly subjects (71.6 years) participated in the study. All subjects participated in face perception, face matching, emotion matching, and emotion selection tasks. In addition, elderly subjects were administered a multicomponent cognitive test: the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (Cognistat) and the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Version. We analyzed these factors using multiple linear regression.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the two groups in the face perception task, but in the face matching, emotion matching, and emotion selection tasks, elderly subjects showed significantly poorer performance. Among elderly subjects, multiple regression analyses showed that performance on the emotion matching task was predicted by age, emotional status, and cognitive function, but paradoxical relationships were observed between recognition of emotional faces and some verbal functions. In addition, 47% of elderly participants showed cognitive decline in one or more domains, although all of them had total Cognistat scores above the cutoff.ConclusionIt might be crucial to consider preclinical pathological changes such as mild cognitive impairment when testing for age effects in elderly populations.
Highlights
As with cognitive functions, it is crucial for people to be able to recognize emotions
Multiple regression analyses showed that performance on the emotion matching task was predicted by age, emotional status, and cognitive function, but paradoxical relationships were observed between recognition of emotional faces and some verbal functions
It might be crucial to consider preclinical pathological changes such as mild cognitive impairment when testing for age effects in elderly populations
Summary
It is crucial for people to be able to recognize emotions. There are two main views of the relationship between age-related changes in emotional and cognitive functions in the literature. One perspective suggests that changes in emotion recognition are independent of those in cognitive function, both are influenced by age. Baena et al (2010), who examined younger and older adults using an emotional identification task and cognitive tests targeting prefrontal functions, suggested that age effects may contribute independently to each function. The second viewpoint suggests that changes in emotion recognition are dependent on cognitive functions. Virtanen et al (2017) focused on an elderly population using large-scale sampling and suggested that the decline in emotion recognition may depend on cognitive functions. The ability to recognize emotions changes with age. This study was performed to clarify the cognitive functions underlying recognition of emotional facial expressions, and to evaluate the effects of depressive mood on recognition of emotion in elderly subjects, as well as to reproduce the effects of aging on the recognition of emotional facial expressions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
