Poster Session 08 Program Schedule
02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)
Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables
Final Abstract #29
Behavioral Activation Effects on Cognition in Co-Occurring Type 2 Diabetes and Depression: A Pilot Study
Lydia Grenko, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, United States
Leilani Feliciano, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, United States
Sarah Anderson, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, United States
Category: Medical/Neurological Disorders/Other (Adult)
Keyword 1: diabetes
Keyword 2: depression
Keyword 3: executive functions
Objective:
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and depression have independent negative impacts on cognitive functioning, which may be further compounded when they co-occur. Specifically, type 2 diabetes is associated with executive dysfunction (e.g., Yadav, 2022), while depression affects attention, working memory, and processing speed (e.g., Kwak et al., 2016). Together, these effects on cognition may interfere with ability to engage in self-care behaviors necessary to manage symptoms ofT2DM and depression. Behavioral activation (BA) may be an effective approach to address self-care goals for diabetes and depression symptom management. At present, it remains unclear whether adequately addressing depressive symptoms and improving diabetes management may also impact associated cognitive impairment. The present pilot study explores the effects of BA treatment on cognitive measures of global and executive functioning among adults with comorbid T2DM and symptoms of depression.
Participants and Methods:
A total of 10 adults aged 30 to 78 years were recruited from a community health center and participated in this pilot study. All participants were diagnosed with T2DM or pre-diabetes and reported clinically significant symptoms of depression. At intake, all participants completed a brief battery of measures including SLUMS, TMT A and B, and Stroop to assess executive functioning. Participants were randomly assigned to participate in either a five-session behavioral activation (BA) protocol to address diabetes and depression self-care goals or were placed in a waitlist control group (WC) and continued to receive standard medical care and participated in at least two health education groups. After 6 weeks, both groups then completed SLUMS, TMT A and B, and Stroop as part of follow-up measures.
Results:
A series of six one-way ANCOVAs did not reveal any significant differences between the BA and WC groups on all cognitive outcome measures while controlling for baseline scores, all p’s > .05, effect sizes ranged from .00 to .27 across all measures. Change score analysis revealed higher mean change scores in the BA group compared to the waitlist control group for SLUMS, Stroop A and B, and TMT B. Participants in the WC group exhibited greater mean changes on Stroop C compared to the BA group. Participants in both groups performed worse on TMT A at posttest.
Conclusions:
While limited by sample size, the results from this pilot study suggest promising positive impacts of BA on cognition in individuals with T2DM or pre-diabetes and depression. Following a brief BA protocol, participants showed improved global cognitive functioning, processing speed, and executive functioning in basic and divided attention. Additional research with a more robust sample and extensive cognitive assessment may further support and elucidate the impacts of BA on cognitive functioning in those with T2DM and depression.
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