Impaired Financial Capacity in Late Life Depression and Its Relationship to Cognitive Functioning and Cortical Thickness

AbstractObjectives:Impairment in financial capacity is an early sign of cognitive decline and functional impairment in late life. Cognitive impairments such as executive dysfunction are well documented in late-life major depression; however, little progress has been made in assessing associations of these impairments with financial incapacity.Methods:Participants included 95 clinically depressed and 41 nondepressed older adults without dementia. Financial capacity (assessed with the Managing Money scale of the Independent Living Scale), cognitive functioning (comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation), and depression severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale – 24) were assessed. T tests were used to assess group differences. Linear regression was used to analyze data.Results:Depressed participants performed significantly lower on financial capacity (t = 2.98, p < .01). Among depressed participants, executive functioning (B = .24, p < .05) was associated with reduced financial capacity, controlling for age, gender, education, depression severity, and other cognitive domains.Conclusions:Our results underscore the importance of assessing financial capacity in older depressed adults as they are likely vulnerable to financial abuse even in the absence of dementia. It will be valuable to assess whether treatment for depression is an effective intervention to improve outcomes.

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Impaired financial capacity in late life depression is associated with cognitive performance on measures of executive functioning and attention

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617709990300 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 793-798 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

R. SCOTT MACKIN ◽

PATRICIA A. AREÁN

Keyword(s):

Executive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Late Life ◽

Depression Symptom ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Financial Capacity ◽

Cognitive Correlates ◽

Significant Disability ◽

Capacity Performance

AbstractFew studies have evaluated the prevalence of impairments of financial capacity among individuals with psychiatric disorders. Late life depression (LLD) is a common psychiatric disorder associated with significant disability and cognitive impairment. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence and cognitive correlates of impairments of financial capacity among individuals with LLD. Participants included 65 LLD individuals and 32 comparison subjects. Assessments included measures of financial capacity, cognitive functioning, and depression symptom severity. Individuals with LLD exhibited a significantly higher rate of impaired financial capacity (22%) than the comparison group (6%). Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that performance on measures of executive functioning and attention, but not depression severity, were most strongly associated with financial capacity performance in LLD. Our results suggest impairments of financial capacity in LLD are largely explained by cognitive functioning in these domains. (JINS, 2009, 15, 793–798.)

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Pathways to Remission of Late Life Depression, Across the Spectrum of Cognitive Functioning

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jagp.2012.12.085 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. S65-S66

Author(s):

Aaron M. Koenig ◽

Meryl Butters ◽

Amy Begley ◽

Semhar Ogbagaber ◽

Abdus S. Wahed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Late Life ◽

Late Life Depression

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Cognitive Functioning and Late-Life Depression

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617714000198 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 461-467 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Aaron M. Koenig ◽

Rishi K. Bhalla ◽

Meryl A. Butters

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Neuropsychological Assessment ◽

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Late Life ◽

Cognitive Outcomes ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

The Relationship

AbstractThis brief report provides an introduction to the topic of cognitive functioning in late-life depression (LLD). In addition to providing a review of the literature, we present a framework for understanding the heterogeneity of cognitive outcomes in this highly prevalent disorder. In addition, we discuss the relationship between LLD and dementia, and highlight the importance of regularly assessing cognitive functioning in older adults who present with depressive symptoms. If cognitive deficits are discovered during a neuropsychological assessment, we recommend referral to a geriatric psychiatrist or cognitive neurologist, for evaluation and treatment of the patient’s symptoms. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–7)

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0710 The Association of Late-Life Depression, Cognitive Functioning, and Sleep Disorder in Aging

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsz067.708 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A285-A285

Author(s):

Jessica Aronis ◽

Katrina Daigle ◽

Ahmed Almghasilah ◽

Christopher Gilbert ◽

Taylor Delp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Sleep Disorder ◽

Late Life ◽

Late Life Depression

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Association between physical frailty and cognition in late-life depression

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.037 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S84-S84

Author(s):

M. Arts ◽

R. Collard ◽

H. Comijs ◽

M. Zuidersma ◽

S. de Rooij ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Late Life ◽

Interference Control ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Cognitive Frailty ◽

Frailty Criteria

IntroductionCognitive frailty has recently been defined as the co-occurrence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment. Late-life depression is associated with both physical frailty and cognitive impairment, especially processing speed and executive functioning.Aim and objectivesIn this study, we investigated the association between physical frailty and cognitive functioning in depressed older persons.MethodsIn a total of 378 patients (> 60 years) with depression according to DSM-IV criteria and a MMSE score of 24 points or higher, the physical frailty phenotype as well as its individual criteria (weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, low activity) was studied. Cognitive functioning was examined in 4 domains: verbal memory, working memory, interference control, and processing speed.ResultsOf the 378 depressed patients (range 60–90 years; 66.1% women), 61 were classified as robust (no frailty criteria present), 214 as prefrail (1 or 2 frailty criteria present), and 103 as frail (> 3 criteria). Linear regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, showed that the severity of physical frailty was associated with poorer verbal memory, slower processing speed, and decreased working memory, but not with changes in interference control.ConclusionIn late-life depression, physical frailty is associated with poorer cognitive functioning, although not consistently for executive functioning. Future studies should examine whether cognitive impairment in the presence of physical frailty belongs to cognitive frailty and is indeed an important concept to identify a specific subgroup of depressed older patients, who need multimodal treatment strategies integrating physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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