Unrecognised depression among older people: a cross-sectional study from Norwegian general practice

Is the change in longitudinal cognitive function in older adults with diabetes affected by trajectory classes of depressive symptoms?

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify classes based on the trajectory of depressive symptoms and to examine the impact of trajectory classes of depressive symptoms on longitudinal changes in cognitive function in older adults with diabetes.

METHODS

This is a secondary data analysis of 572 older adults with diabetes using data from the 5th (2014) to 8th (2020) wave of the Korean longitudinal study of aging. Analysis of latent class growth and the effect of trajectories of depressive symptoms on cognitive function was examined using a latent growth curve model. This analysis has been found to be functional in change trajectories and in describing the direction of the trajectory.

RESULTS

The trajectory of depressive symptoms was classified into four classes: low-stable (36.89%), high-decreasing (20.28%), low-increasing (18.71%), and high-persistent (24.13%). Compared with the high-persistent class, higher initial levels of cognitive function were observed in the high-decreasing and low-stable classes. Compared with the high-persistent class, a slower rate of cognitive decline was observed in the low-stable class (B = 0.410, p = .021).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous monitoring of depressive symptoms and early management of depressive symptoms for community-dwelling older adults with diabetes can help prevent the cognitive decline and delay the deterioration of cognitive function.

Depressive symptoms in the entire spectrum of cognitive ageing in Greece: evidence from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD)

OBJECTIVES

To study (i) the prevalence of mild and moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms in the entire spectrum of cognitive ageing in Greece and (ii) the relationship between these symptoms and demographic and clinical data.

METHODS

The study was based on the randomly selected cohort of the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale. Participants also received a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, while the clinical diagnoses of dementia and mild cognitive impairment were established according to international diagnostic criteria. Statistical analyses relied on comparison tests and a logistic (proportional odds) ordinal regression model.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms were detected in 19.5% of the 1936 study participants, while 11.3% of both people with MCI and dementia had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. The regression model revealed that older adults with more severe depressive symptoms were more likely female, cognitively impaired, less educated, were treated with psychotropic medication and lived in Attica versus Thessaly.

CONCLUSIONS

Since depressive symptoms were detected in almost one in five older adults, healthcare professionals in Greece should safeguard the timely detection and effective treatment of such symptoms and the post-diagnostic care of older adults with depression.