UC San Diego

Objective

Given the increase in hoarding symptoms with age, there is a pressing need for understanding the clinical features as they relate to potential interventions for older adults with hoarding disorder (HD). The aim of the current investigation was to explore age-related differences in the level of functional and cognitive impairment in individuals with HD.

Methods

The current study utilized the baseline assessments of 122 adults with HD. Age-related differences in the raw scores of psychiatric, cognitive, and daily functioning were analyzed using a series of multiple regression models controlling for the possible age-related differences in premorbid IQ.

Results

Our results suggested that older adults with HD may experience increased levels of impairment in skills related to executive functioning and everyday functioning when compared with younger adults with HD.

Conclusions

Given these difficulties with neurocognitive functioning, older HD patients may require interventions that focus more on behavioral and functional skills, rather than focusing on changing thought processes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.