The Role of Neuropsychological Factors in Perceived Threat of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthy Ageing

Massimo Bartoli, Nicola Canessa, Giuseppina Elena Cipriani, Stefano F. Cappa and Martina Amanzio
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Massimo Bartoli: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
Nicola Canessa: ICoN Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Giuseppina Elena Cipriani: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
Stefano F. Cappa: ICoN Center, Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Martina Amanzio: Department of Psychology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is known to increase older adults’ vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Alongside increased physical frailty, anxiety symptoms associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 contagion appear to represent its most prominent ‘sequelae’. The attentional and linguistic resources required for decoding virus-related information may also influence the perceived threat of contagion. However, the possible role of neuropsychogeriatric factors on the latter dimension has never been assessed in a longitudinal study on the older population. To fill this gap, 50 healthy cognitively preserved older adults underwent a neuropsychological and physical frailty assessment before the pandemic (T0). Subsequently, they agreed to be interviewed and re-assessed during the lockdown (T1) and immediately after it (T2) through a longitudinal one-year study. Perceived threat of SARS-CoV-2 at T2 was predicted both by baseline anxiety and frailty scores, and by decreased performance in information processing speed and language comprehension tests. While confirming the joint role of frailty and anxiety, a moderation/interaction model showed that each of them was sufficient, at its highest level, to support the maximum degree of perceived threat of contagion. The contribution of neuropsychological factors to perceived threat of SARS-CoV-2 highlights their importance of tailoring information campaigns addressed to older people.

Keywords: normal aging; perceived threat; cognitive functions; mood deflections; phenotypic frailty model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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