Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Does the coexistence of pain and depressive symptoms accelerate cognitive decline?
Patrícia Silva Tofani1,2, Roberta de Oliveira Máximo3, Natália Cochar-Soares2
1Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto, Brazil.
Objectives:
Investigate whether the coexistence of pain and depressive symptoms is a risk factor for cognitive decline in individuals aged 50 or older.
Method:
Longitudinal trajectory study involving 4,718 participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Joint pain was self-reported, and intensity was classified as mild, moderate/intense. Depressive symptoms were investigated using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-8 ≥ 4). The sample was divided into six groups: no pain and no depression (NP/NDe), mild pain and no depression (MP/NDe), moderate/intense pain and no depression (M-IP/NDe), no pain and depression (NP/De), mild pain and depression (MP/De), and moderate/intense pain and depression (M-IP/De). The outcome of interest was performance in memory, executive function, and global cognition. Generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse performance in the cognitive domains and global cognition score as a function of pain and depressive symptoms during 12 years of follow-up.
Results:
Over time, individuals with M-IP/De had a greater memory decline (-0.038 SD/year, 95%CI: -0.068 to -0.007) and the global cognition score (-0.033 SD/year, 95%CI: -0.063 to -0.002) than those with NP/NDe.
Conclusion:
The coexistence of moderate/intense pain and depressive symptoms is a risk factor for the decline of global cognition and memory.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Long-term Depression
Depression: Overview
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

