worse performance at baseline and follow-up on all 3 tests of cognitive function (P,.001 for all comparisons). For example, the baseline Digit Symbol score (mean ± SD) was 45.5 ± 10.7 among women with 0 to 2 symptoms of depression, 40.3 ± 10.7 for women with 3 to 5 symptoms, and 39.0 ± 11.3 for women with 6 or more symptoms. After adjusting for the baseline score, cognitive change scores were also inversely associated with the number of depressive symptoms (P<.001 for all comparisons). Odds ratios for cognitive deterioration using 0 to 2 symptoms as the reference were 1.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.32.1) for 3 to 5 symptoms and 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.6-3.3) for 6 or more symptoms. Results were similar after being adjusted for education, age, health status, exercise, alcohol use, functional status, and clinic site. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms in older women are associated with both poor cognitive function and subsequent cognitive decline. Mechanisms underlying the association between these 2 common conditions need further exploration. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56:425-430
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Yaffe et al. (1999) studied this question.