The Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Emotional Sensitivity in Early‐Stage Alzheimer's Disease: Implications for Social and Emotional Well‐Being

Depression significantly impacts both emotion reading and real-life empathy in AD, including empathic concern and perspective-taking. Negative mood (dysphoria and hopelessness) hindered emotional connection despite having no effect on emotion reading. Increased mental rumination (worry and concerns about cognition) was linked to reduced empathic engagement, despite heightened emotion comprehension skills. These complex relationships underscore the importance of identifying the specific nature of depressive symptoms when evaluating individuals with early-stage AD, to better implement targeted interventions that preserve social engagement and emotional well-being.