Original scientific paper

Cognitive Function and Depression in Elderly People

Jasminka Despot Lučanin ; Department of Health Psychology, University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb

Abstract

Recent studies confirmed the association between depression and cognitive decline in old age, but the nature of this association is still not very clear. The aims of this study were to investigate the possible association between depression and cognitive function in elderly institutionalized people and to determine moderating psychosocial factors in this association. Subjects were 561 residents of 11 older people's homes in Zagreb, Croatia, 160 (28.5%) men and 401 (71.5%) women, aged 56-96 years (average 79 years), ambulatory and not diagnosed with dementia. The Clifton Cognitive Function Scale and scales measuring depression, self-perceived health, social participation, and functional ability were administered. Subjects' education and objective health status were controlled for in our analysis. Data analyses confirmed that depression and cognitive function in old age are associated, but this association changes in the presence of different moderating variables, which can simultaneously affect both cognitive function and depression, but each to a different degree and direction.

Keywords

cognitive function; depression; old people

Hrčak ID:

68731

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/68731

Publication date:

1.6.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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