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Published on: July 10, 2017
Longitudinal relationships between cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms among Hispanic older adults
Tatiana Perrino1, Craig A Mason, Scott C Brown
1Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1425 NW 10th Avenue, Room 211, Miami, FL 33136, USA. tperrino@med.miami.edu
Summary
Poorer cognitive functioning predicts higher depressive symptoms in Hispanic older adults over time. Depressive symptoms did not predict cognitive decline in this community-dwelling population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Hispanic older adults face elevated risks for cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms.
- Understanding the longitudinal relationship between cognition and depression is crucial for this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional relationship between cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms over three years.
- To examine these associations specifically within a community-dwelling Hispanic older adult population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 273 Hispanic older adults in Miami.
- Structural equation modeling with a cross-lagged panel design was employed.
Main Results:
- Depressive symptoms did not predict subsequent cognitive functioning.
- Poorer cognitive functioning was significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms at each time point.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive decline may serve as a predictor for the development of depressive symptoms in Hispanic older adults.
- The findings highlight a unidirectional relationship where cognition impacts mood, not vice versa.
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