Educational level as a protective factor against the influence of depressive symptoms on cognition in older adults: Implications for functional independence during a 10-year follow-up
Cano-López,Irene Aliño,Marta Duque,Aránzazu Martínez,Paula Almela,Mercedes Garciá-Rubio,Mariá J. Puig-Perez,Sara
Cano-López,Irene
Aliño,Marta
Duque,Aránzazu
Martínez,Paula
Almela,Mercedes
Garciá-Rubio,Mariá J.
Puig-Perez,Sara
Abstract
Objectives: To examine whether the educational level moderates the relationship between baseline depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning at 5- and 10-year follow-ups in older adults, considering the association between cognitive functioning and difficulty with activities of daily living (ADL). Design: Using a prospective design, a path analysis was performed. Setting: In-home, face-to-face interviews and self-administered questionnaires, within the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Participants: In total, 1,461 participants (mean age = 66.62) were followed up from Wave 1 (baseline) to Wave 2 (at 5 years) and Wave 3 (at 10 years). Measurements: Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline. Cognitive functioning and difficulty with ADL were assessed at baseline and at 5 and 10 years. Results: Educational level moderates the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning at 5 years (β = 0.07, SE = 0.03, p = 0.04, Cohen's f 2 = 0.02), being depressive symptoms related to poor cognitive functioning only at low educational levels. Cognitive functioning predicts difficulty with ADL at 5 and 10 years (β = -0.08, SE = 0.03, p = 0.008, Cohen's f 2 = 0.01; β = -0.09, SE = 0.03, p = 0.006, Cohen's f 2 = 0.02). The proposed model yielded excellent fit (CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.0001, 90% CI 0.0001-0.03, SRMR = 0.004, and χ2(8) = 7.16, p = 0.52). Conclusions: Cognitive reserve may act as a protective factor against the effect of depressive symptoms on cognition in older adults, which, in turn, is relevant to their functional independence.
Description
Funding Information: The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project is supported by the National Institute on Aging (R37AG030481, R01AG033903, R01AG043538, R01AG048511); the Office of Women’s Health Research, the Office of AIDS Research, and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (R01AG021487); and by National Opinion Research Center (NORC) which was responsible for the data collection. .
Date
2021
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Keywords
AGING PROJECT NSHAP, ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE, CEREBRAL ATROPHY, COMMUNITY, DECLINE, DEMENTIA, IMPAIRMENT, MINI-MENTAL-STATE, NATIONAL SOCIAL-LIFE, QUALITY-OF-LIFE, activities of daily living (ADL), aging, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, education
Citation
Cano-López, I, Aliño, M, Duque, A, Martínez, P, Almela, M, Garciá-Rubio, M J & Puig-Perez, S 2021, 'Educational level as a protective factor against the influence of depressive symptoms on cognition in older adults : Implications for functional independence during a 10-year follow-up', International Psychogeriatrics, vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 813-825. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610221000272