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Association between anxious-depression and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults: a latent class
Yiran Deng1,2, Siwen Lv2, Letian Yang1,2
1School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Frontiers in Public Health
|July 11, 2026
Summary
Distinct anxious-depression profiles were found in Chinese older adults. Higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms correlated with poorer cognitive function, highlighting the need for integrated screening.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur in older adults, but their varied presentations and cognitive impacts in Chinese community settings are understudied.
- Understanding these heterogeneous symptom profiles is crucial for targeted interventions in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct anxious-depression symptom profiles among community-dwelling older adults in China.
- To investigate the association between these identified profiles and cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to categorize 5,116 older adults (≥60 years) based on anxiety and depressive symptoms.
- Cognitive function was assessed using the brief Community Screening Inventory for Dementia.
- Multivariable linear regression examined links between anxious-depression phenotypes and cognitive scores.
Main Results:
- Four anxious-depression profiles emerged: low (70.01%), high depression (13.94%), moderate anxious-depression (8.64%), and high anxious-depression (7.41%).
- Both anxious-depression and depression-dominant phenotypes were significantly associated with lower cognitive function (p < 0.001).
- The high anxious-depression group showed the most significant cognitive decline compared to other groups (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Specific anxious-depression subtypes exist in community-dwelling older adults.
- Increased severity of anxiety and depression symptoms corresponds to diminished cognitive function.
- Findings emphasize integrating anxiety and depression assessment into cognitive health programs for older adults.
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