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Behavioral Sciences
Special Issues
Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging
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Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 12063

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Irene Ceccato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, CH, Italy
Interests: theory of mind; emotion recognition; communication; social functioning in young and older adults
Dr. Rocco Palumbo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, CH, Italy
2. School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Interests: healthy and pathological cognitive aging; Cognitive Neuroscience
Dr. Alessia Rosi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, PV, Italy
Interests: age-related differences in prosocial behavior and decision-making process; analysis of cognitive; affective and emotional processes influencing prosociality and decision-making in older adults; development of intervention to improve decision-making, theory of mind and cognitive abilities in aging
Dr. Adolfo Di Crosta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, CH, Italy
Interests: machine learning algorithm; Emotion Classification; Behavioral Psychology
Dr. Pasquale La Malva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychological Sciences Humanities and Territory, D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, CH, Italy
Interests: cognitive neuropsychology; cognitive neuroscience; memory cognitive psychology; behavioral psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aging is a multifaced process, reshaping cognitive and emotion-motivational functioning and consequently affecting people’s psychological and social life. Older adults face both losses and gains, and the path toward successful aging remains to be fully uncovered. Clinical conditions common in this phase of life, such as cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s diseases, are a challenge for the individual, the caregivers, and society as a whole.

This Special Issue aims to bring together empirical evidence and foster advancements in theoretical reflections on the changes and challenges characterizing aging. Considering the complexity of the topic, a multidisciplinary approach is needed. The Special Issue aims to provide an opportunity for scientists from different fields—including psychology, neurobiology, cognitive sciences, and social sciences—to discuss innovative findings and research progress in age-related psychological and behavioral changes. From basic research in the laboratory to clinical trials and intervention programs in the community, our purpose is to gather recent findings on healthy and pathological aging.

Researchers using various methods—including behavioral experiments, neuroimaging studies, implicit measures (mouse- and eye-tracking), computer simulation, and neuropsychological assessment tools—are invited to contribute with original empirical articles. We are open to replication studies and negative/null results from studies conforming to rigorous methodological and statistical standards that help to advance scientific knowledge. Meta-analyses and theoretical reviews offering relevant insight into state-of-the-art knowledge and suggesting future avenues are also welcome.

Dr. Irene Ceccato
Dr. Rocco Palumbo
Dr. Alessia Rosi
Dr. Adolfo Di Crosta
Dr. Pasquale La Malva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Dr. Irene Ceccato
Dr. Rocco Palumbo
Dr. Alessia Rosi
Dr. Adolfo Di Crosta
Dr. Pasquale La Malva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • older adults
  • age-related differences
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • training
  • brain stimulation
  • wellbeing
  • social cognition
  • emotion
  • cognitive impairment
  • cognitive processes

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 290 KiB  
Article
Cognitive Functions, Theory of Mind Abilities, and Personality Dispositions as Potential Predictors of the Detection of Reciprocity in Deceptive and Cooperative Contexts through Different Age Groups
by Anne-Lise Florkin, Alessia Rosi, Serena Lecce and Elena Cavallini
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13121007 - 10 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1145
Abstract
Reciprocity is a fundamental element in social interactions and implies an adequate response to the previous actions of our interactant. It is thus crucial to detect if a person is cooperating, deceiving, or cheating, to properly respond. However, older adults have been shown [...] Read more.
Reciprocity is a fundamental element in social interactions and implies an adequate response to the previous actions of our interactant. It is thus crucial to detect if a person is cooperating, deceiving, or cheating, to properly respond. However, older adults have been shown to have a lower ability to detect reciprocity compared to younger adults, partially tying this decline to cognitive functions. Another likely association to reciprocity in literature is made with personality dispositions, i.e., agreeableness, altruism, and empathic concern, and Theory of Mind (ToM). Consequently, the present study investigated age-related differences in the detection of the different components of reciprocity, as well as examined the predictors of reciprocity, such as cognitive measures, personality dispositions, and true and false beliefs in young (n = 98; 20–39 years), middle-aged (n = 106; 40–64 years), and older adults (n = 103; 65–96 years). The Mind Picture Story-Theory of Mind Questionnaire was used to measure the reciprocity components and true and false beliefs in each group. This study reported a significant decline in reciprocity detection from adults aged 65 years old and over. Additionally, the ability to detect reciprocity was significantly linked to cognitive functioning and ToM across all age groups, especially in older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging)
10 pages, 401 KiB  
Article
Access to Primary Healthcare and Discussion of Memory Loss with a Healthcare Provider in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: Does Race/Ethnicity Matter?
by Seoyoun Kim, Hyunwoo Yoon and Yuri Jang
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110955 - 20 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1082
Abstract
Because subjective cognitive decline (SCD) manifests before the clinical and irreversible onset of dementia, efforts to address SCD are imperative for the early identification and prevention of dementia. For people who actually experience SCD, having a usual source of care may be an [...] Read more.
Because subjective cognitive decline (SCD) manifests before the clinical and irreversible onset of dementia, efforts to address SCD are imperative for the early identification and prevention of dementia. For people who actually experience SCD, having a usual source of care may be an important catalyst for addressing memory issues. This study investigates the relationship between having a usual source of care and the discussion of SCD with healthcare providers, while taking into account racial and ethnic differences. The pooled 2019–2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 47 states in the U.S. was used. The sample included 7900 individuals aged 50 and older who reported significant cognitive decline. Using logistic regression with state-level clustering, we found that those with a usual source of healthcare were almost twice as more likely to discuss memory loss with a healthcare provider. In order to test for the multiplicative effects, we included an interaction term between each race category and having a primary care provider (PCP). There was a significant interaction effect between Hispanic ethnicity and having a PCP (OR = 0.25, p < 0.05). While non-Hispanic respondents who had a PCP had a higher probability of discussing memory issues with a healthcare provider (42% vs. 25%), Hispanic respondents with a PCP were less likely to discuss their memory loss with a healthcare provider (36% vs. 49%). The study adds to the growing literature on the vital role of the primary care service in provision of service to those with cognitive decline, while revealing ethnic disparity in memory-loss-related communication with healthcare providers in a primary care setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging)
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12 pages, 633 KiB  
Article
Association between Loneliness and Memory Function through White Matter Hyperintensities in Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Gender
by Hyeyoung Park, Hairin Kim, Seyul Kwak, Yoosik Youm and Jeanyung Chey
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100869 - 23 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1414
Abstract
Loneliness has an important impact on memory function in late life. However, the neural mechanism by which loneliness detrimentally influences memory function remains elusive. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the association between loneliness and memory function varies by gender. The current study aimed [...] Read more.
Loneliness has an important impact on memory function in late life. However, the neural mechanism by which loneliness detrimentally influences memory function remains elusive. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the association between loneliness and memory function varies by gender. The current study aimed to investigate the neural mechanism underlying the association between loneliness and episodic memory function and explore whether it varies with gender among cognitively normal older adults. A total of 173 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older from the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP) study (mean age = 71.87) underwent an assessment of loneliness, neuropsychological testing, and structural magnetic resonance imaging. The association between loneliness and episodic memory function was mediated by the volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), but not by hippocampal or gray matter volumes. In addition, the association between loneliness and memory function through WMHs was significantly moderated by gender; specifically, the indirect effect was significant among men but not among women. The study suggests that WMHs may be a potential neurological mechanism that causes late-life memory dysfunction associated with loneliness in older men. The findings underscore the need for gender-specific interventions to mitigate memory impairment associated with late-life loneliness, with significant public health implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging)
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16 pages, 3626 KiB  
Article
Effects of Robot Animacy and Emotional Expressions on Perspective-Taking Abilities: A Comparative Study across Age Groups
by Xucong Hu and Song Tong
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 728; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13090728 - 31 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1091
Abstract
The global population is inevitably aging due to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates, leading to an amplified demand for innovative social and healthcare services. One promising avenue is the introduction of companion robots. These robots are designed to provide physical assistance [...] Read more.
The global population is inevitably aging due to increased life expectancy and declining birth rates, leading to an amplified demand for innovative social and healthcare services. One promising avenue is the introduction of companion robots. These robots are designed to provide physical assistance as well as emotional support and companionship, necessitating effective human–robot interaction (HRI). This study explores the role of cognitive empathy within HRI, focusing on the influence of robot facial animacy and emotional expressions on perspective-taking abilities—a key aspect of cognitive empathy—across different age groups. To this end, a director task involving 60 participants (30 young and 30 older adults) with varying degrees of robot facial animacy (0%, 50%, 100%) and emotional expressions (happy, neutral) was conducted. The results revealed that older adults displayed enhanced perspective-taking with higher animacy faces. Interestingly, while happiness on high-animacy faces improved perspective-taking, the same expression on low-animacy faces reduced it. These findings highlight the importance of considering facial animacy and emotional expressions in designing companion robots for older adults to optimize user engagement and acceptance. The study’s implications are pertinent to the design and development of socially effective service robots, particularly for the aging population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging)
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9 pages, 266 KiB  
Article
Older Adults’ Advance Aging and Life Satisfaction Levels: Effects of Lifestyles and Health Capabilities
by Dongwook Cho and Wookwang Cheon
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13040293 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3305
Abstract
Many studies in the literature have examined older adults’ past and current lifestyles in either positive or negative association with their life satisfaction levels. Health capabilities naturally decline with aging and can consequently be related to older adults’ life satisfaction levels. Thus, the [...] Read more.
Many studies in the literature have examined older adults’ past and current lifestyles in either positive or negative association with their life satisfaction levels. Health capabilities naturally decline with aging and can consequently be related to older adults’ life satisfaction levels. Thus, the present study sought to examine the effects of age difference, lifestyles, and health capabilities on older adults’ life satisfaction levels. A total of 290 older adults from three clinical research centers in the United States completed a self-administered questionnaire on their lifestyles and life satisfaction levels, and their health capability assessments were evaluated. There was a significant effect of advancing age on life satisfaction levels among older adults. Additionally, engagement in exercise or physical activity significantly influenced life satisfaction levels. However, there were no statistical effects of vital signs and functional assessments of health capabilities on life satisfaction among older adults. The findings suggest that advancing age itself is the strongest factor in older adults’ life satisfaction. Additionally, engagement in exercise and physical activity can enhance life satisfaction levels as a supplemental factor among older adults. These findings can be beneficial to optimize life satisfaction levels through appropriate programs to encourage positive lifestyles among older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging)
15 pages, 6732 KiB  
Article
With or without the Mask: Age Differences in Perceived Trustworthiness and Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Adolfo Di Crosta, Irene Ceccato, Emanuela Bartolini, Pasquale La Malva, Matteo Gatti, Eleonora D’Intino, Loreta Cannito, Anna Marin, Riccardo Palumbo, Nicola Mammarella, Alberto Di Domenico and Rocco Palumbo
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13030195 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1554
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the obligation to wear surgical face masks have affected social interactions. Wearing a mask can cause impairments in face identification, emotion recognition, and trait impressions. The present study investigated, during the COVID-19 period, age-related differences in perceived trustworthiness (Study [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the obligation to wear surgical face masks have affected social interactions. Wearing a mask can cause impairments in face identification, emotion recognition, and trait impressions. The present study investigated, during the COVID-19 period, age-related differences in perceived trustworthiness (Study 1) and health (Study 2) when viewing faces with or without masks. Younger (YAs, 18–35 years) and older (OAs, over 65 years) adults’ ratings were compared. Through a web-based platform, a series of neutral younger and older faces (YFs vs. OFs) were presented, on a computer screen, with or without a mask (Mask vs. No-Mask), and participants were asked to rate them on a 7-point scale. Furthermore, data collected during the pandemic (Mask and No-Mask conditions) were compared with ratings obtained before it (Pre-COVID condition). Perceived trustworthiness was lower in the No-Mask condition for both age groups compared to Mask and Pre-COVID conditions, which did not differ. For health ratings, no differences emerged for OAs between the conditions, whereas YAs’ ratings were lower in both the Mask and No-Mask conditions compared to the Pre-COVID condition. The fear of contracting COVID-19 affected both trustworthiness and health ratings. Wearing a surgical face mask affects trait impressions for YAs and OAs, partly due to the fear of COVID-19. Trait impressions are also influenced by the age of the face to be evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging)
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14 pages, 1103 KiB  
Article
Dyadic Conversation between Mandarin-Chinese-Speaking Healthy Older Adults: From Analyses of Conversation Turns and Speaking Roles
by Meng-Ju Tsai
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13020134 - 05 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1346
Abstract
Older adults’ daily conversations with other older adults enable them to connect to their surrounding communities and improve their friendships. However, typical aging processes and fluctuations in family caring might cause conversation changes. The purpose of this study was to explore the quantitative [...] Read more.
Older adults’ daily conversations with other older adults enable them to connect to their surrounding communities and improve their friendships. However, typical aging processes and fluctuations in family caring might cause conversation changes. The purpose of this study was to explore the quantitative contributions of conversation turns (CTs) and speaking roles (SRs) in Mandarin-Chinese-speaking conversation dyads between mutually familiar healthy older adults (HOAs). A total of 20 HOAs aged 65 or over were recruited. Each dyad conversed for ten minutes once a week for five weeks, five sessions per dyad, for a total of 50 sessions. The frequency and percentages of the coded CTs and SRs contributed by each HOA were individually tallied and calculated. Quantitatively symmetrical contributions of CTs and SRs occurred in Mandarin-Chinese-speaking conversation dyads between mutually familiar HOAs. Although typical aging processes might change conversations, both Mandarin-Chinese-speaking HOAs serve as active interlocutors to each other in taking CTs and SRs to co-construct their conversation processes and content in their dyadic conversation. Sufficient knowledge of conversation co-constructions might lead them to have more supportive environments to connect to surrounding communities and improve their friendships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive, Emotional, and Psychological Changes in Healthy and Pathological Aging)
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