Cognitive and Mental Health Differences Across Latent Profiles of Religiosity and Spirituality in Korean Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer's Disease.

Three latent religiosity/spirituality profiles were identified among older adults with MCI that differed in psychological well-being and verbal fluency.

• Sample included 224 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
• Latent profile analysis used Duke University Religion Index indicators.
• The three MCI classes showed significant differences in well-being and verbal fluency outcomes.
• No differences in depressive symptoms were found across the three MCI classes.
• No differences in other cognitive domains (beyond verbal fluency) were found across the three MCI classes.

Four latent religiosity/spirituality profiles were identified among older adults with Alzheimer's disease that differed in Short Blessed Test scores and Word List Recall.

• Sample included 294 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• The four AD classes showed significant differences in Short Blessed Test and Word List Recall performance.
• Psychological well-being did not differ significantly across the four AD classes.
• Depressive symptoms did not differ significantly across the four AD classes.
• Other cognitive outcomes beyond the two specified measures did not differ across AD classes.

The total study sample comprised 518 South Korean older adults with neurocognitive disorders analyzed using latent profile analysis.

• Total sample: n = 518, with MCI (n = 224) and AD (n = 294) subgroups.
• Participants were South Korean older adults.
• Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) was measured using the Duke University Religion Index.
• The Duke University Religion Index encompasses organizational activity, private practice, and intrinsic beliefs.
• Outcomes assessed included cognitive function, psychological well-being, and depressive symptoms.

Religiosity and spirituality encompasses organizational activity, private practice, and intrinsic beliefs that may relate differently to cognitive and mental health outcomes in older adults.

• The study conceptualized R/S as a multidimensional construct with at least three distinct components.
• These components were operationalized through the Duke University Religion Index.
• The premise was that different R/S dimensions may have differential relevance to cognitive versus mental health outcomes.
• This framing motivated the use of latent profile analysis rather than treating R/S as a single composite variable.

The findings underscore the relevance of diverse religiosity/spirituality patterns for individualized care in older adults with neurocognitive disorders.

• Different R/S profiles were associated with different outcome domains in MCI versus AD.
• In MCI, R/S profiles were more relevant to psychological well-being and verbal fluency.
• In AD, R/S profiles were more relevant to objective cognitive test performance (Short Blessed Test and Word List Recall).
• The authors concluded that diverse R/S patterns should be considered in individualized care approaches.