Age-related cognitive decline: a comparison between patients with type 1 bipolar disorder and healthy controls
N. Smaoui, H. Sghaier, L. Triki, M. Maalej, R. Feki, I. Gassara, N. Charfi, M. Maalej, S. Omri, L. ZouariIntroduction
Cognitive decline occurs with normal aging and is often more pronounced in bipolar disorder type 1 (BD-1). Patterns of age-related cognitive impairment may differ between BD-1 patients and healthy individuals, with certain domains potentially more vulnerable to the effects of aging.
Objectives
Analyze the relationship between age and cognitive performance in bipolar disorder type 1 (BD-1) compared with a control group, and to identify cognitive domains vulnerable to aging.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional, case-control study. It was carried out at the “C” psychiatry outpatient unit at CHU Hedi Chaker in Sfax, Tunisia. Fifteen TB-1 patients and fifteen healthy controls were included. All participants were assessed by the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) scale for assessment of cognitive functions.
Results
In cases, a significant negative correlation was observed between age and Verbal Learning Test-Immediate (VLT-I; ξ=-0.537∗) as well as Verbal Learning Test-Delayed (VLT-D; ξ=-0.556∗) scores, reflecting a decline in verbal learning abilities with advancing age. After multiple linear regression analysis, there was a negative correlation between total SCIP score and age (r= -0.4; p=0.012). For healthy controls, significant negative correlations were identified between age and SCIP total score (ξ=-0.516∗), VLTI (ξ=-0.547∗) and Processing Speed Test (PST; ξ=-0.719∗), indicating global cognitive impairment, particularly pronounced for processing speed. No significant associations were found for the Working Memory (WMT) or Verbal Fluency (VFT) subtests in either group (p > 0.05).
Conclusions
This study revealed a differentiated age-related cognitive decline: impaired verbal learning in TB-1 patients and global impairments (SCIP score, processing speed) in controls. Targeted follow-up and longitudinal studies are needed to clarify these mechanisms.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared