Depression and the Diagnosis of MCI in a Culturally Diverse Sample in the United States

Abstract Objective To analyze (1) whether there are ethnic differences in the severity of depressive symptoms between groups of elders classified as cognitively normal (CN) or amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and (2) the influence of depressive symptoms on specific cognitive performance by ethnicity across diagnoses, controlling for covariates. Methods 164 Hispanics residing in the United States (HAs) and European Americans (EAs) (100 women; Mage = 72.1, SD = 8.0) were diagnosed as either CN or aMCI. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Cognition was assessed using the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (semantic memory), Multilingual Naming Test (confrontation naming), and the Stroop Test (Color–Word condition; executive function). A 2 × 2 univariate ANCOVA as well as linear and logistic regressions explored differences in depressive symptoms among diagnostic and ethnic groups. Results Higher depression was seen in aMCI compared to the CN group for both ethnicities, after controlling for age, education, gender, and Mini-Mental State Examination score. Greater levels of depression also predicted lower scores in confrontation naming and semantic memory for only the EA group and marginally in scores of executive function for HA participants. GDS-15 scores of ≤ 4 also predicted less likelihood of aMCI diagnosis. Conclusions Severity of depressive symptoms was associated with greater cognitive impairment, independent of ethnicity. Significant results suggest detrimental effects of depression on clinical diagnoses most evidently for subjects from the EA group.

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Body mass index, cognitive deficit and depressive symptoms in high cardiovascular risk patients

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-57642010dn40400010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 313-319 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amanda Lucas da Costa ◽

Juliana Santos Varela ◽

Matheus Roriz Cruz ◽

Andry Fitterman Costa ◽

Paulo Dornelles Picon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Obese Patients ◽

High Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Point Increase ◽

Risk Patients ◽

Relationship Of

Abstract To evaluate the relationship of obesity, cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Methods: A sample of 93 patients aged 50 years or older was selected from the Center of Dyslipidemia and High Cardiovascular Risk from Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Patients with stroke were excluded. For cognitive evaluation, the MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination) was used. A score of 24 or less was considered as cognitive impairment, and for those who had 4 years or less of education, the cutoff point was 17. The GDS-15 (Geriatric Depression Scale) was also used, with the cutoff of 6 for presence of depressive symptoms. Results: Obese patients showed lower mean MMSE scores compared to non-obese patients (p=0.0012). Additionally, for every one point increase in BMI above 30 there was a 27% increase in the chances of the patient having cognitive impairment. The obese patients presented 31% chance of having cognitive impairment compared with overweight subjects. Conclusions: Our findings corroborated the association between obesity and cognitive impairment in high cardiovascular risk patients. This association however, was not observed for depressive symptoms.

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Identifying the Factors Related to Depressive Symptoms Amongst Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16183449 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (18) ◽

pp. 3449 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dan Song ◽

Doris S.F. Yu ◽

Polly W.C. Li ◽

Qiuhua Sun

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

High-level depressive symptoms have been reported in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), resulting in increased risk of progression to dementia. However, studies investigating the correlates of depressive symptoms among this population are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the significant socio-demographic, lifestyle-related and disease-related correlates of depressive symptoms among this cohort. Cross-sectional data were obtained from a sample of 154 Chinese community-dwelling older adults with MCI. MCI subjects were screened by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale. Possible correlates of depressive symptoms in individuals with MCI were explored by multiple linear regressions. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults with MCI was 31.8%. In multiple regression analysis, poor perceived positive social interaction, small social network, low level of physical activity, poor functional status, subjective memory complaint, and poor health perception were correlated with depressive symptoms. The findings highlight that depressive symptoms are sufficient to warrant evaluation and management in older adults with MCI. Addressing social isolation, assisting this vulnerable group in functional and physical activities, and cultivating a positive perception towards cognitive and physical health are highly prioritized treatment targets among individuals with MCI.

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Social relationship quality, depression and inflammation: A cross-cultural longitudinal study in the United States and Tokyo, Japan

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764020981604 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002076402098160

Author(s):

Benjamin Kaveladze ◽

Allison Diamond Altman ◽

Meike Niederhausen ◽

Jennifer M Loftis ◽

Alan R Teo

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Social Relationship ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The United States ◽

Psychosocial Stressors ◽

Psychological Traits ◽

Reactive Protein

Background: Depression is an illness with biological, psychological, and social underpinnings, which may include the interplay of inflammation, psychological traits, stress, social relationships, and cultural background. Aims: This work examines the prospective associations between social relationship quality and depressive symptoms, and between social relationship quality and inflammatory outcomes in two distinct cultures. Methods: Data were obtained from two longitudinal, prospective cohort studies: Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), and Midlife Development in Japan (MIDJA) between 2004 and 2010. One thousand three hundred and twenty-seven community-based adults were included in analyses, 1,054 from the United States and 273 from Tokyo, Japan. Depressive symptoms (measured by the CES-D Depression Scale) and inflammation (measured by blood sample concentrations of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein) were the outcomes. Social relationship quality was the predictor. Culture, trait independence and interdependence, and psychosocial stressors were examined as moderators of the link between social relationship quality and depressive symptoms. Results: Higher social relationship quality was associated with lower depressive symptoms in the United States (β = −6.15, p < .001), but not in Japan (β = −1.25, p = .390). Social relationship quality had no association with inflammation. Psychosocial stressors moderated the link between social relationship quality and depressive symptoms in both the United States (β = −0.39, p = .001) and Tokyo (β = −0.55, p = .001), such that social relationship quality acted as a buffer against depressive symptoms as psychosocial stress increased. Conclusion: Improving the perceived quality of social relationships appears to be a stronger target for depression interventions in the United States than in Tokyo, Japan.

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Depressive symptoms may be associated with semantic memory decline in elderly adults

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/1980-57642021dn15-030006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 350-356

Author(s):

Mariana Faoro ◽

Amer Cavalheiro Hamdan

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Severe Depression ◽

Elderly Adults ◽

Cognitive Screening ◽

General Evaluation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Relationship

ABSTRACT Depressive symptoms are associated with a decline of episodic memory, but the relationship with semantic memory remains unclear. Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship of depressive symptoms with the semantic memory in a community-based sample of elderly adults. The sample comprised two groups, namely, clinical (with depressive symptoms) and control. Methods: The following instruments were used General Evaluation Questionnaire, Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic, Wechsler Abbreviate Scale of Intelligence, Geriatric Depression Scale-30 (GDS-30), Beck Depression Inventory-II, Boston Nomination Test (BNT), vocabulary, verbal fluency test (fruits and animals), and Brief Cognitive Screening Battery. Results: The results showed a significant difference between groups only in BNT. A significant correlation was observed between the BNT and GDS-30. Participants with symptoms of severe depression performed poorly on BNT when compared with individuals with mild symptoms. Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that depressive symptoms in elderly adults can affect semantic memory and may worsen with the severity of symptoms.

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Is the geriatric depression scale a reliable screening tool for depressive symptoms in elderly patients with cognitive impairment?

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1002/gps.2154 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 556-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Hans Debruyne ◽

Michael Van Buggenhout ◽

Nathalie Le Bastard ◽

Marcel Aries ◽

Kurt Audenaert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Geriatric Depression

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Comparing the Performance of the HADS and the GDS-15 in the AIBL Study

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610215000769 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (9) ◽

pp. 1577-1578 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guy Campbell ◽

Christina Bryant ◽

Kathryn A. Ellis ◽

Rachel Buckley ◽

David Ames ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Hospital Inpatient ◽

Geriatric Depression ◽

Hospital Anxiety ◽

Depression Subscale ◽

Inpatient Settings

Screening measures such as the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) (Sheikh and Yesavage, 1986) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (Zigmond and Snaith, 1983) are important tools in the recognition of depressive symptoms in older people. While these measures are widely used, there is evidence of specific weaknesses in some cohorts and contexts, with the GDS-15 showing limitations in the context of cognitive impairment (Gilley and Wilson, 1997), and the depression subscale of the HADS (HADS-D) losing sensitivity in the context of older participants in hospital inpatient settings (Davies et al., 1993).

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Physical activity and depression in older adults with and without cognitive impairment

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/1980-57642018dn12-010002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 12-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat ◽

Khajonsak Pongpanit ◽

Somrudee Hanmanop

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk

ABSTRACT Low physical activity and depression may be related to cognitive impairment in the elderly. Objetive: To determine depression and physical activity (PA) among older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Methods: 156 older adults, both males and females, aged ≥60 years, were asked to complete the Thai Mini-Mental State Examination (Thai-MMSE), a global cognitive impairment screening tool. Seventy-eight older adults with cognitive impairment and 78 older adults without cognitive impairment were then separately administered two questionnaires (i.e., the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale; TGDS and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; GPAQ). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk of developing cognitive impairment in the groups of older individuals with and without cognitive impairment. Results: A cross-sectional study of elderly with a mean age of 74.47 ± 8.14 years was conducted. There were significant differences on the depression scale and in PA between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Further, participants with low PA and high level of depressive symptoms had an increased risk of cognitive impairment (Odds ratio = 4.808 and 3.298, respectively). Conclusion: Significant differences were noted in PA and on depression scales between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Therefore, increased PA and decreased depressive symptoms (i.e., having psychological support) are suggested to reduce the risks of cognitive impairment in older adults.

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Are depressive symptoms in mild cognitive impairment predictive of conversion to dementia?

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610215002409 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 921-928 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ellen De Roeck ◽

Ingrid Ponjaert-Kristoffersen ◽

Marc Bosmans ◽

Peter Paul De Deyn ◽

Sebastiaan Engelborghs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Cued Recall ◽

Cognitive Testing ◽

Cognitive Measures ◽

Significant Difference

ABSTRACTBackground:Depressive symptoms are common in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The association between depressive symptoms and conversion to dementia is not yet clear. This longitudinal study was conducted to ascertain whether depressive symptoms in aMCI patients are predictive of conversion to dementia.Methods:35 aMCI patients participated in this study. All participants underwent cognitive testing and were administered the geriatric depression scale (GDS) to determine the presence of depressive symptoms. A score equaling or higher than 11 on the GDS was taken as the cut-off point for presence of significant depressive symptoms. Conversion to dementia was assessed at follow-up visits after 1.5, 4, and 10 years.Results:31.4% of the patients reported depressive symptoms at baseline. None of the cognitive measures revealed a significant difference at baseline between patients with and without depressive symptoms. After 1.5, 4, and 10 years respectively 6, 14, and 23 patients had converted to dementia. Although the GDS scores at baseline did not predict conversion to dementia, the cognitive measures and more specifically a verbal cued recall task (the memory impairment scale-plus) was a good predictor for conversion.Conclusions:Based on this dataset, the presence of depressive symptoms in aMCI patients is not predictive of conversion to dementia.

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Retirement, Pensions, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in China, England, Mexico, and the United States

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415019868227 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 40-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peiyi Lu ◽

Mack Shelley

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Age Groups ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The United States ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Private Pensions ◽

Public And Private ◽

The Family

This study explores the associations of retirement, and of public and private pensions, with older adults’ depressive symptoms by comparing differences between countries and age groups. Harmonized data were analyzed from the family of Health and Retirement Study in 2012–2013 from China, England, Mexico, and the United States ( n = 97,978). Respondents were asked if they were retired and received public or private pensions. Depressive symptom was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Retirement was significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms for the United States and with lower depressive symptoms for Mexico and England. Public pension was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms for Mexico and with higher depressive symptoms for the United States and China. Private pension was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms for the United States, China, and England. Our study shows that continuity theory demonstrates cross-national variation in explaining the association between retirement and depressive symptoms.

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