scholarly journals COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS IN OLDER ADULTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Santos ◽  
Tiago Ordonez ◽  
Ana Moreira ◽  
Luiz Moraes ◽  
Patrícia Lessa ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 has impacted the daily life of older adults, originating symptoms of depression which might influence cognitive performance. There is a need thus for papers which document such relations. Objective: Investigate the presence of depression symptoms in older adults and their relations to cognitive performance in the pandemic framework. Methods: Cross-sectional study in which the Brazilian telephone version of the Mini Mental State Examination (Braztel-MMSE) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS15) were employed, as well as a question which examined the perception of changes in mood and anxiety due to the pandemic. Results: The analyzed sample was comprised of 428 older adults with an average age of 67.54±5.65 years and average education level of 14.72±3.54 years. The average score of Braztel-MMSE was 20.24±1.49 and that of GDS15 was 3.39±4.00. The Spearman correlation coefficient was a significant rho= -0.10 (p=0.034). 71% of those surveyed noticed mood and/ or anxiety changes and only those showed a significant correlation between Braztel-MMSE and GDS15 of rho= -0.17 (p=0.003). Conclusion: Results show an association between depression symptoms and cognitive performance. Such an association has been more evident when analyzing changes in mood and/ or anxiety during the pandemic. Such findings contribute to the planning of services and public policies to older adults in the current framework.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Moreira ◽  
Tiago Ordonez ◽  
Gabriela Santos ◽  
Luiz Moraes ◽  
Patrícia Lessa ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 has generated impacts mainly on the psychological health of older adults´ population. Depression symptoms and high anxiety levels may negatively influence sleep quality and thus the cognitive performance of those who suffer from them. There needs to be studies which document such relations during the pandemic. Objective: Investigate the influence of sleep on cognition, depression symptoms, and anxiety. Methods: Cross-sectional study applying the following scales: Brazilian telephone version of the Mini Mental State Examination (Braztel-MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI). An additional questionnaire with 6 subjective questions concerning the presence or absence of sleep issues was also employed. Results: 428 older adults aged between 60 and 90 and with an average of 67.54 ± 5.65 years were evaluated. When Sleep Scores and other variables of scales were correlated the following results were obtained: Sleep Score and Braztel-MMSE (rho=-0.08 e p=0.108); Sleep Score and GDS15 (rho=0.46 e p <0,001); and Sleep Score and GAI (rho=0.41 e p<0.001). Conclusion: Results emphasize that sleep has not shown relation to cognitive performance, mainly in this sample with individuals of high education levels. However, sleep has been strongly associated with variables concerning depression symptoms and anxiety levels, showing its importance for the psychological levels of individuals in the current pandemic framework.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Sousa ◽  
Anabela Pereira ◽  
Rui Costa

Background. Older adults report subjective memory complaints (SMCs) but whether these are related to depression remains controversial. In this study we investigated the relationship between the SMCs and depression and their predictors in a sample of old adults.Methods. This cross-sectional study enrolled 620 participants aged 55 to 96 years (74.04 ± 10.41). Outcome measures included a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, a SMC scale (QSM), a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), a Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).Results. The QSM mean total score for the main results suggests that SMCs are higher in old adults with depressed symptoms, comparatively to nondepressed old adults. The GDS scores were positively associated with QSM but negatively associated with education, MMSE, and MoCA. GDS scores predicted almost 63.4% of variance. Scores on QSM and MoCA are significantly predicted by depression symptomatology.Conclusion. Depression symptoms, lower education level, and older age may be crucial to the comprehension of SMCs. The present study suggested that depression might play a role in the SMCs of the older adults and its treatment should be considered.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-90
Author(s):  
Ong Swee Leong ◽  
Suriawati Ghazali ◽  
Emni Omar Daw Hussin ◽  
Soh Kim Lam ◽  
Salimah Japar ◽  
...  

With the older population increasing worldwide, depressive disorder in this cohort is a serious public health problem that contributes to increased healthcare costs and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among older adults in Malaysia who attended a daycare centre and to identify the relationship between depression and demographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 159 older adults recruited following screening for mental capacity. The Malay Geriatric Depression Scale questionnaire was distributed among the participants to obtain descriptive data on the symptoms of depression. Some 59.1% of the participants experienced depression. The most common factors associated with depression were being divorced, low education levels and low income. The findings indicate the need to revise and re-evaluate the activities and programmes in daycare centres for older adults in order to objectively cater to their physical and emotional needs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Satoru Kanamori ◽  
Ryota Watanabe ◽  
Meiko Yokoyama ◽  
Yasuhiro Miyaguni ◽  
...  

AbstractThe current study investigated the relationship between the frequency of watching sports and depressive symptoms among older adults. This study used cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide mail survey of 21,317 older adults. Depressive symptoms were defined as a Geriatric Depression Scale score of ≥ 5. Participants were queried regarding the average frequency at which they watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet over the past year. Among the 21,317 participants, 4559 (21.4%) had depressive symptoms, while 4808 (22.6%) and 16,576 (77.8%) watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet at least once a year, respectively. Older adults who watched sports on-site a few times/year (prevalence ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.74) or 1–3 times/month (0.66, 0.53–0.82) were less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-spectators after adjusting for frequency of playing sports, exercise activities, and other potential confounders. Meanwhile, a dose–response relationship was confirmed for watching via TV/Internet (prevalence ratio of 0.86, 0.79, and 0.71 for a few times/year, 1–3 times/month, and ≥ 1 time/week, respectively). This study suggested that watching sports on-site or via TV/Internet, regardless of whether they regularly engage in sports, may reduce the risk of depressive symptoms among older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110400
Author(s):  
Kemal Jemal ◽  
Tinsae Abeya Geleta ◽  
Berhanu Senbeta Deriba ◽  
Mukemil Awol

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has caused high morbidity and mortality in older adults over the world. Because the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic greatly affects older adults who have a preexisting health condition, they are generally susceptible to a high incidence of severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in older adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was completed in August 2020. Standardized and pretested General Anxiety Disorder–7 and Geriatric Depression Scale were used to screen the symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. Data were entered into EpiData (version 4.3.2) and transferred to SPSS (version 24) for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the significantly associated variables with a 95% confidence interval at p < 0.05. Results: Of the total older adults interviewed, 68.7% had developed symptoms of anxiety and 59.9% had symptoms of depression during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Female participants, having a chronic disease and poor knowledge of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. Age category of 81 to 90 and above 90, lack of social support, and having a chronic disease were significantly associated with symptoms of depression. Conclusion: The symptoms of anxiety and depression among older adults in the North Shoa Zone during coronavirus disease 2019 were higher than before the coronavirus disease 2019 happened. The results were evidence points for developing a psychological intervention to tackle the older adults’ mental health needs in the community during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 795
Author(s):  
Michio Maruta ◽  
Hyuma Makizako ◽  
Yuriko Ikeda ◽  
Hironori Miyata ◽  
Atsushi Nakamura ◽  
...  

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate relationships between individuals’ ratings of satisfaction and performance of activities that they found meaningful and depressive symptoms. Data was obtained from 806 older adults (mean age 74.9 ± 6.3 years, women = 63.0%) who participated in a community-based health check survey (Tarumizu Study 2018). Participants selected meaningful activities from 95 activities using the Aid for Decision-Making in Occupation Choice and evaluated their satisfaction and performance. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and defined by a GDS-15 score of ≥5. Non-linear logistic regression analyses were used separately by gender to examine the association between satisfaction and performance of meaningful activities and depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15.8%. We found no significant difference between meaningful activity choice between older adults with depressive symptoms and those without, in both men and women. After adjusting for potential covariates, satisfaction was associated with depressive symptoms in both men (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35–0.77) and women (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49–0.91), but performance was limited in women (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99). Our findings suggest that depressive symptoms are associated with satisfaction in meaningful activities regardless of activity categories.


GeroPsych ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Mahshid Foroughan ◽  
Mohammad Rostami ◽  
Seyed Jalal Younesi

Abstract. This study examined the relationship of depression and life satisfaction with suicidal ideation among older Iranian adults. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 159 older adults in Tehran (73% community-residing, 60 years or older) participated. The data were gathered using the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the Life Satisfaction Index-Z (LSIZ). According to the results, depression and life satisfaction are significantly related to suicidal ideation; the two variables predict 0.39% of the variance of suicidal ideation in older adults ( p < .01). The interaction between depression and life satisfaction is a stronger predictor of suicidal ideation in older adults than each of the variables alone.


Author(s):  
Yuki Nakai ◽  
Hyuma Makizako ◽  
Ryoji Kiyama ◽  
Kazutoshi Tomioka ◽  
Yoshiaki Taniguchi ◽  
...  

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between chronic pain and physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. We analyzed data obtained from 323 older adults (women: 74.6%) who participated in a community-based health check survey (the Tarumizu Study, 2017). Physical frailty was defined in terms of five parameters (exhaustion, slowness, weakness, low physical activity, and weight loss). We assessed the prevalence of chronic low back and knee pain using questionnaires. Participants whose pain had lasted ≥two months were considered to have chronic pain. Among all participants, 138 (42.7%) had chronic pain, and 171 (53.0%) were categorized as having physical frailty or pre-frailty. Logistic regression analysis showed that chronic pain was significantly associated with the group combining frailty and pre-frailty (odds ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval 1.03–2.76, p = 0.040) after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, score on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and medications. Comparing the proportions of chronic pain among participants who responded to the sub-items, exhaustion (yes: 65.9%, no: 39.4%) demonstrated a significant association (p < 0.001). Chronic pain could be associated with the group combining frailty and pre-frailty and is particularly associated with exhaustion in community-dwelling older adults. Therefore, there is a need for early intervention and consideration of the role of exhaustion when devising interventions for physical frailty in older individuals with chronic pain.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solfrid Romundstad ◽  
Torfinn Hynnekleiv

Abstract Background: The study aimed to examine whether there are associations between levels of depression symptoms and levels of the inflammation marker albuminuria. Materials and methods: The 8303 participants in this cross-sectional study were subjects from the second survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT, Norway). Depression symptoms were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for moderately increased albuminuria (ACR > 3.0 mg/mmol) according to different HADS subgroups and -scores.Results: Unadjusted ORs for moderately increased albuminuria were significantly increased in those with HADS > 8 (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.54, p=0.013) and HADS > 11 (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.19-2.14, p=0.002). However, after adjusting for age and sex, only HADS > 11 was significantly associated with ACR > 3.0 mg/mmol (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.08-1.98, p=0.014), and after multivariable adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidity, there were no significant associations. Conclusion: The positive and significant association between moderately increased albuminuria and symptoms of depression found in unadjusted analyses weakened and disappeared after adjustments. Although individuals with depressive symptoms had albuminuria more often than individuals without such symptoms, albuminuria may reflect other comorbidity and inflammation conditions than depression.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cássia Rossetto Verga ◽  
Graciela Ishibashi ◽  
Guilherme da Silva ◽  
Tiago Ordonez ◽  
Gabriela dos Santos ◽  
...  

Background: Literature data emphasize that the recent spread of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered several mental health issues such as depression and anxiety disorders. Fear of the illness and social distancing have shown to be risk factors for mood disorders. It is thus necessary to study the relation between mood disorders in older adults during the pandemic. Objective: Analyze the relation between mood disorders and COVID-19 in older adults within the pandemic framework. Methods: Cross-sectional study with the application of the following tools: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS15) and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI). Results: 428 older adults with an average age of 67.54±5.65 years were evaluated. Most of them were married females with an education level of 14.72±3.54 years and only 10% of them had fallen ill to COVID-19. 71% of them reported changes in mood and anxiety levels due to the pandemic. There was also a significant statistical difference between this group and the other 29% regarding GDS15 and GAI scores (p <0.001). Meaningful correlations were found between GDS and GAI (rho = 0.52 / ρ = 0,001) in which the larger the depressive symptomatology, the higher the anxiety level was. Conclusion: Results suggest that there have been associations between depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults during the pandemic period. Such findings are important for the implementation of social and health public policies.


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