engleski

Follow-up Changes in the Association Between Cognitive Function and Depression in Elderly Persons

Recent studies confirmed the association between depression and cognitive decline in old age, but the nature of this association is still not very clear (Andel, Hughes, & Crowe, 2005 ; Blazer, 2003 ; Van Horen et. al., 2005). Our previous research confirmed that depression and cognitive function in old age are associated, but this association changes in the presence of different moderating variables, which can simultaneously affect both cognitive function and depression, but to a different degree and direction (Despot Lucanin, Lucanin, & Havelka, 2011). The aims of this study were to investigate the possible longitudinal association between depression and cognitive function of elderly institutionalized people and to determine moderating psychosocial factors in this association. Participants were 411 residents of 11 retirement homes in Zagreb, Croatia, 104 men, 307 women, aged 56-96 years (average 79) at baseline, ambulatory and not diagnosed with dementia. Variables were measured, at baseline and at 2-years follow-up: sociodemographic, cognitive function, depression, self-perceived health, social participation, and functional ability, individually, in the institution, by trained interviewers. Regression analyses showed that baseline depression and cognitive function scores were significant predictors of 2-year follow-up depression (R= .66 ; R2= .43 ; p<.001). Strength of predictions suggests that higher depression and lower cognitive function at earlier old age increase depression two years later. Moderating role of other observed psychosocial factors in this association was different in different test models. These findings are interesting in terms of better identification of groups of older persons particularly susceptible to cognitive decline or clinical depression in terms of intervention in the form of specific and widely applicable strategies to maintain their psychological functioning in the ageing process.

Cognitive Function; Depression; Old Persons

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