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Executive functions in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder and healthy controls : Associations with heart rate variability, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and physical fitness

Sirevåg, Kristine ; Stavestrand, Silje Haukenes ; Specht, Karsten ; Nordhus, Inger Hilde ; Hammar, Åsa LU ; Molde, Helge ; Mohlman, Jan ; Endal, Trygve Bruun ; Halmøy, Anne and Andersson, Eva , et al. (2024) In Applied Neuropsychology:Adult
Abstract

Executive functions (EF) decline with age and this decline in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) may be influenced by heart rate variability (HRV), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and physical fitness. Understanding these relationships is important for tailored treatments in this population. In this study, 51 adults with GAD (M age = 66.46, SD = 4.08) and 51 healthy controls (M age = 67.67, SD = 4.04) were assessed on cognitive inhibition (Stroop task), shifting (Trails part 4), flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test–Perseverative errors), working memory (Digit Span Backwards), IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), high frequency HRV, serum mature BDNF levels, and VO2 max. Results... (More)

Executive functions (EF) decline with age and this decline in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) may be influenced by heart rate variability (HRV), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and physical fitness. Understanding these relationships is important for tailored treatments in this population. In this study, 51 adults with GAD (M age = 66.46, SD = 4.08) and 51 healthy controls (M age = 67.67, SD = 4.04) were assessed on cognitive inhibition (Stroop task), shifting (Trails part 4), flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test–Perseverative errors), working memory (Digit Span Backwards), IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), high frequency HRV, serum mature BDNF levels, and VO2 max. Results indicated that participants with GAD exhibited better cognitive inhibition compared to controls, with no general reduction in EF. Cognitive inhibition was predicted by gender, HRV, and BDNF levels, while cognitive shifting was predicted by gender and IQ, and cognitive flexibility and working memory by IQ. The enhanced cognitive inhibition in GAD participants might stem from maladaptive use of this function, characteristic of GAD, or protection from EF decline due to normal HRV. Increased BDNF levels, possibly due to good fitness, or compensatory mechanisms related to the disorder, might also play a role. These findings highlight the complexity of EF and related mechanisms in GAD, highlighting the need for interventions that consider both cognitive and physiological factors for optimal outcomes.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, executive functions, generalized anxiety disorder, heart rate variability
in
Applied Neuropsychology:Adult
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • pmid:39418257
  • scopus:85206899268
ISSN
2327-9095
DOI
10.1080/23279095.2024.2415421
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c9a4b5b3-a7b7-4876-8170-33526c016764
date added to LUP
2025-01-14 10:10:46
date last changed
2025-07-16 00:59:10
@article{c9a4b5b3-a7b7-4876-8170-33526c016764,
  abstract     = {{<p>Executive functions (EF) decline with age and this decline in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) may be influenced by heart rate variability (HRV), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and physical fitness. Understanding these relationships is important for tailored treatments in this population. In this study, 51 adults with GAD (M age = 66.46, SD = 4.08) and 51 healthy controls (M age = 67.67, SD = 4.04) were assessed on cognitive inhibition (Stroop task), shifting (Trails part 4), flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test–Perseverative errors), working memory (Digit Span Backwards), IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), high frequency HRV, serum mature BDNF levels, and VO<sub>2</sub> max. Results indicated that participants with GAD exhibited better cognitive inhibition compared to controls, with no general reduction in EF. Cognitive inhibition was predicted by gender, HRV, and BDNF levels, while cognitive shifting was predicted by gender and IQ, and cognitive flexibility and working memory by IQ. The enhanced cognitive inhibition in GAD participants might stem from maladaptive use of this function, characteristic of GAD, or protection from EF decline due to normal HRV. Increased BDNF levels, possibly due to good fitness, or compensatory mechanisms related to the disorder, might also play a role. These findings highlight the complexity of EF and related mechanisms in GAD, highlighting the need for interventions that consider both cognitive and physiological factors for optimal outcomes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sirevåg, Kristine and Stavestrand, Silje Haukenes and Specht, Karsten and Nordhus, Inger Hilde and Hammar, Åsa and Molde, Helge and Mohlman, Jan and Endal, Trygve Bruun and Halmøy, Anne and Andersson, Eva and Sjøbø, Trond and Nordahl, Hans M. and Thayer, Julian F. and Hovland, Anders}},
  issn         = {{2327-9095}},
  keywords     = {{Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; executive functions; generalized anxiety disorder; heart rate variability}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Applied Neuropsychology:Adult}},
  title        = {{Executive functions in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder and healthy controls : Associations with heart rate variability, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and physical fitness}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2024.2415421}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/23279095.2024.2415421}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}