Late-life depressive symptoms are associated with functional impairment cross-sectionally and over time: Results of the AgeMooDe study

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the relationship between late-life depressive symptoms, cognitive and functional impairment in a cohort of very old community-based participants.

METHODS: A sample of 1,226 primary care patients was assessed at baseline (Mage = 80.6 years). Statistical analyses were conducted using baseline and 12-month follow-up data.

RESULTS: At baseline, depressed participants showed minor cognitive deficits compared with nondepressed participants, whereas functional deficits were pronounced. Depressive symptoms and global cognition were not associated longitudinally. In contrast, follow-up functional impairment was predicted by baseline level and increase of depressive symptoms between baseline and follow-up. Reversely, follow-up depressive symptoms were predicted by functional decline between baseline and follow-up, whereas baseline functional status was not predictive.

DISCUSSION: Depressive symptoms and global cognitive function were not associated longitudinally, but level and increase of depressive symptoms over time predicted functional impairment after 1 year. Interventions to reduce depressive symptoms, or to encourage coping strategies might be promising to reduce functional impairment. Elevated follow-up depressive symptoms were only predicted by functional decline, supposedly emphasizing that incident functional impairment might be associated with an acute increase of depressive symptoms. Psychological adjustment processes were not examined, but might be targeted in future.