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A Study on the Longitudinal Relationship between Changes in Depression and Cognitive Function among Older Adults
Soyoung Park1, Kyuhyoung Jeong1, Seoyoon Lee2
1Department of Social Welfare, Semyung University, 65 Semyung-ro, Jecheon 27136, Republic of Korea.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 28, 2023
Summary
In older adults living alone, increasing depression is linked to declining cognitive function. Early intervention for depression is crucial to prevent cognitive impairment and dementia in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- South Korea's aging population presents unique challenges for older adults living alone.
- Understanding the link between mental health and cognitive decline is critical for this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal relationship between depression and cognitive function changes.
- To identify how depression impacts cognitive trajectories in older adults living alone.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) from 2016 to 2020.
- Included 1354 participants with at least three years of data.
- Employed latent growth modeling (LGM) for analysis.
Main Results:
- Observed a gradual increase in depression and a decline in cognitive function over time.
- Higher initial depression correlated with lower initial cognitive function and faster decline.
- Rapid increases in depression were associated with rapid cognitive function decline.
Conclusions:
- Depression and cognitive function share a complex interplay in older adults living alone.
- Addressing depression is vital for preventing cognitive impairment and dementia.
- Continuous monitoring and intervention for escalating depression are necessary.
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