Key result
Depression was associated with low MMSE scores (≤25) only in elderly subjects with no psychiatric history (young/old OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.83-4.19; old/old OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.61-3.03).
Why the study?
Is cognitive impairment associated with depression only in elderly individuals with no history of psychiatric illness?
Cross-Sectional (n=4,051)
Is cognitive impairment associated with depression only in elderly individuals with no history of psychiatric illness?
Odds Ratio: 2.75 (95% CI 1.83–4.19)
Cognitive impairment is associated with depression in elderly individuals only when there is no prior psychiatric history, suggesting first-episode depression with cognitive impairment may indicate cerebral deterioration.
Depression with cognitive impairment in psychiatrically naive elderly warrants evaluation; leaves open causality and directionality.
BACKGROUND: In previous studies cognitive impairment in depressed elderly in-patients tends to be associated with a late onset of depression. This study tests the hypothesis that cognitive impairment is associated with depression only in elderly individuals with no history of psychiatric illness. METHOD: We investigated an age-stratified sample of 4051 elderly people living in the community, aged between 65 and 84 (AMSTEL). The relationship between depression (GMS-AGECAT diagnosis) and scores on the Mini Mental State Examination was studied in subjects with and without a reported psychiatric history (CAMDEX questionnaire). RESULTS: Low MMSE scores (MMSE < or = 25) were only associated with depression in subjects with no psychiatric history (young/old: OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.83, 4.19; old/old: OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.61, 3.03). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the combination of cognitive impairment and first-episode depression in elderly individuals may indicate cerebral deterioration. Depression as such may not be associated with cognitive impairment.
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Ojen et al. (1995) conducted a cross-sectional in Depression and cognitive impairment (n=4,051). Depression vs. No depression was evaluated on Low MMSE scores (MMSE <= 25) (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.83-4.19). Depression was associated with low MMSE scores (≤25) only in elderly subjects with no psychiatric history (young/old OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.83-4.19; old/old OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.61-3.03).
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