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Cognitive changes and emotional heart rate variability dynamics in subjective cognitive decline: An exploratory longitudinal neuropsychophysiological study
Giuseppina Elena Cipriani, Francesca Borghesi, Pietro Cipresso, Nicola Valentino Canessa, Sara Molfese, Cristiano Manco, Alice Chirico, Gloria Simoncini et al.. Acta Psychologica, 2026-01-23
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is increasingly recognised as a potential preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease, yet the physiological mechanisms underlying its progression remain poorly understood. This longitudinal study examined whether heart rate variability (HRV), a non-invasive marker of autonomic nervous system regulation, could serve as an early psychophysiological indicator of cognitive vulnerability in older adults with SCD. Twenty-one participants meeting established SCD criteria completed two identical experimental sessions approximately 12 months apart. Each session included comprehensive neuropsychological testing and continuous HRV recording during exposure to emotionally evocative images from the International Affective Picture System, presented in a temporally extended and affectively rich paradigm known as an "affective storm". At the group level, no significant changes in cognitive performance or HRV indices were observed over time. However, analyses of individual change scores revealed that longitudinal variations in HRV, particularly in indices reflecting parasympathetic tone and overall autonomic flexibility, were selectively and consistently associated with performance in global cognition, verbal fluency, and visuospatial working memory. These findings suggest that dynamic autonomic responses to emotional stimulation may reflect subtle physiological correlates of cognitive functioning, even in the absence of overt cognitive decline. The observed associations are consistent with neurovisceral integration models, and support the potential utility of HRV as a sensitive, non-invasive marker of early cognitive trajectories in ageing. In conclusion, HRV may offer unique insights into the complex interaction between emotional reactivity and cognitive resilience in older adults with SCD, opening promising avenues for early screening and intervention.
Key findings
- At the group level, no significant changes in cognitive performance or HRV indices were observed over time.
- However, analyses of individual change scores revealed that longitudinal variations in HRV, particularly in indices reflecting parasympathetic tone and overall autonomic flexibility, were selectively and consistently associated with performance in global cognition, verbal fluency, and visuospatial working memory.
- These findings suggest that dynamic autonomic responses to emotional stimulation may reflect subtle physiological correlates of cognitive functioning, even in the absence of overt cognitive decline.
- In conclusion, HRV may offer unique insights into the complex interaction between emotional reactivity and cognitive resilience in older adults with SCD, opening promising avenues for early screening and intervention.
Why it matters
In 21 people with subjective cognitive decline followed about 12 months apart, there were no significant group-level changes in cognitive performance or heart rate variability over time. Individual changes in heart rate variability were associated with some cognitive measures, but this is an exploratory small study, not a treatment or cure.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Acta Psychologica) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Acta Psychologica: journal h-index 187 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Martina Amanzio: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Turin: institution h-index 903 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41579747) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106308
- PubMed: 41579747
- Original source →
- Free full text: Acta Psychologica →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Cipriani, G. E., Borghesi, F., Cipresso, P., Canessa, N. V., Molfese, S., Manco, C., et al. (2026). Cognitive changes and emotional heart rate variability dynamics in subjective cognitive decline: An exploratory longitudinal neuropsychophysiological study. Acta Psychologica. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106308
Vancouver
Cipriani GE, Borghesi F, Cipresso P, Canessa NV, Molfese S, Manco C, et al. Cognitive changes and emotional heart rate variability dynamics in subjective cognitive decline: An exploratory longitudinal neuropsychophysiological study. Acta Psychologica. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106308. PMID: 41579747.
BibTeX
@article{cipriani2026-41579747,
author = {Cipriani, Giuseppina Elena and Borghesi, Francesca and Cipresso, Pietro and Canessa, Nicola Valentino and Molfese, Sara and Manco, Cristiano and Chirico, Alice and Simoncini, Gloria and others},
title = {{Cognitive changes and emotional heart rate variability dynamics in subjective cognitive decline: An exploratory longitudinal neuropsychophysiological study}},
journal = {Acta Psychologica},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106308},
pmid = {41579747},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106308}
}
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