Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults Research Articles

The effects of different types of Tai Chi exercise on anxiety and depression in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

The body of evidence supporting the beneficial effects of Tai Chi in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults is steadily increasing. Nonetheless, there remains a scarcity of studies directly comparing the clinical effectiveness of various Tai Chi exercises in addressing anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults. Thus, this study aimed to systematically review and analyze the therapeutic efficacy of four types of Tai Chi interventions in enhancing anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults. During the period up to July 26, 2023, searches were conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and the Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP). The language scope encompassed both English and Chinese. Two independent reviewers conducted the literature review and data extraction. Review Manager 5.4 was employed for traditional meta-analysis and risk assessment, while version 15 of STATA software was used for generating evidence and funnel plots for network meta-analysis. This study was registered in PROSPERO number CRD 42023442270. In this analysis, a total of 20 studies were included, involving 1798 participants. The findings of the pairwise meta-analysis revealed that Tai Chi intervention was more effective than the control group in reducing anxiety (SMD: -1.19, 95% CI: -2.04, -0.34, p < 0.05) and depression (SMD: -0.65, 95% CI: -0.95, -0.65, p < 0.05) symptoms among older adults. The network meta-analysis specifically focused on anxiety symptoms and found that Yang-style Tai Chi (69.9%) had the most favorable outcome, followed by the 24-form Simplified Tai Chi (66.8%). In terms of depression symptoms, the Tai Chi Exercise Program (92.6%) had the highest performance, followed by Yang-style Tai Chi (77.9%). The findings of this study imply that Tai Chi can have beneficial outcomes in the reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms among older individuals. Specifically, when examining various forms of Tai Chi interventions, it was observed that Yang-style Tai Chi exhibited a greater efficacy in alleviating anxiety symptoms, whereas Tai Chi exercise programs demonstrated a higher effectiveness in improving depressive symptoms. Nonetheless, it is strongly advised that older adults select an exercise program that aligns with their interests and preferences, as this can enhance social integration and overall well-being. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023442270, identifier [CRD42023442270].

Dental prosthesis use moderates association between tooth loss and risk of depressive symptoms in older adults with severe tooth loss: The JAGES cohort trial.

Depression is a leading cause of disability. Although tooth loss increases the risk of depressive symptoms, it is unclear whether dental prosthesis use moderates this risk. This study aimed to investigate whether dental prosthesis use moderates the association between tooth loss and new depressive symptoms in older adults. This cohort study used data from the 2016 and 2019 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). The participants were independent older adults aged ≥65 years without depressive symptoms in 2016. The onset of depressive symptoms in 2019 was the outcome variable. The explanatory variables were dental status (≥20 teeth, 10-19 teeth with or without dental prostheses, and 0-9 teeth with or without dental prostheses) in 2016. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Poisson regression models with potential confounders as covariates. The analysis included 50,169 participants (mean age: 72.8 [standard deviation, 5.4] years). During follow-up, the incidence of depressive symptoms was 11.3%. Compared to those who had ≥20 teeth, the RR of depressive symptom onset was highest among those who had 0-9 teeth without dental prostheses (RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04-1.56), after the adjustment for confounders. However, this risk was lower in those with 0-9 teeth and dental prostheses (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.15). These data highlight the potential of dental prostheses as an important factor in reducing the risk of depressive symptoms among individuals with severe tooth loss.

Isotemporal substitution analysis of time between sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity on depressive symptoms in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Compared to young individuals, older adults participate more in sedentary behavior (SB) and less in physical activity (PA). These behaviors are associated with numerous adverse health factors. The purpose of the study was to examine the hypothetical effects of substituting time spent sleeping, performing SB, and performing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on depressive symptomatology in older adults. An analytical cross-sectional study employing exploratory survey methods was conducted in the city of Alcobaça in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The study included 473 older adults who answered a structured questionnaire during an interview. Exposure time to SB and PA level were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and depressive symptoms were analyzed using the short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale. An isotemporal replacement model was used to evaluate the effects of different SB sessions on depressive symptomatology. An increase in the risk of depressive symptoms was observed when MVPA and sleep time were substituted for the same SB time at all times tested, with maximum values of 40% and 20%, respectively. Opposite substitution of MVPA and sleep time increments reduced the risk of depressive symptomatology by 28% and 17%, respectively. The results of the present study indicate that replacing SB with the same amount of sleep or MVPA may reduce depressive symptoms. The longer the reallocation time, the greater are the benefits.

The influence of different sources of anticipated instrumental support on depressive symptoms in older adults.

This study investigated how anticipated instrumental support sources and intergenerational support influence depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults. We employed binary logistic regression on data from 7,117 adults aged ≥60 in the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, controlling for gender, marital status, and self-rated health. 38.89% of respondents exhibited depressive symptoms. Anticipated support from spouse and children, spouse only, children only, or other sources showed 52, 25, 46, and 40% lower odds of depression, respectively, compared with no anticipated support. Those providing financial support had 36% higher odds of depression than those without exchanges. However, those receiving financial support, receiving instrumental support, and receiving and providing financial and emotional support had 19, 14, 23, and 24% lower odds of depression. Different anticipated instrumental support sources and intergenerational support influenced depression odds in older adults, suggesting potential benefits in promoting such support systems.

Vitamin D serum concentration is prospectively associated with depressive symptoms in the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study: a structural equation modeling approach.

To evaluate the direct, indirect, and total prospective effects of serum concentrations of [25(OH)D, 25-hydroxycolecalciferol] on depressive symptoms in older adults. Data from the second (2013-2015) and third (2017-2019) waves of the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study (≥ 60 years) were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). 25(OH)D levels were measured using the microparticle chemiluminescence method. A directed acyclic graph (DAG) was constructed to identify the minimum set of adjustments. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to determine the effects of 25(OH)D on depressive symptoms. A total of 574 older adults' data were analyzed (63.1% female). In the follow-up (n=390), 16.2% of older adults presented high-severity of depressive symptoms (> or = 6 points). SEM analysis revealed a small direct and negative effect of 25(OH)D (β=-0.11, P < 0.05), and a total negative effect (β=-0.13; P < 0.05) on depressive symptoms on wave 3 (an increase of 25(OH)D led to a decrease on depressive symptoms). No direct effect on wave 2 and no indirect effect mediated by depressive symptoms in wave 2 were found. Findings indicate a prospective association between 25(OH)D and depressive symptoms, suggesting a long-term effect in older adults from southern Brazil.

Correlation between Physical Activity and Depression in Community-Dwelling Older Adult Palestinians

Objective: Investigating the relationship between physical activity (PA) and depressive symptoms is a vital field of research globally. Nonetheless, this association remains unexplored in the context of older Palestinian adults, highlighting the need for additional research on this population. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between PA and depressive symptoms among older Palestinian adults. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the West Bank/Palestine with 266 participants. Data were collected using a PA socio-cultural adapted questionnaire (PA-SCAQ), the EuroQuol-5Dimensions-5Levels measure, and the Geriatric depression scale (GDS-15). Independent sample t tests and ANOVA tests were used to investigate mean differences in PA and GDS-15 scores between groups. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between study variables and the impact of the independent variable (PA level) on depressive symptoms. Results: The mean age of the participants was 65.01 ± 8.02 years (range: 55–86), women 51.9%. Lower levels of PA and higher depressive symptoms were recorded among women, participants ≥65 years, and with recorded diagnosed disease (p < 0.05). The regression analysis showed a negative significant correlation between PA and GDS-15 scores (β = −0.235, p < 0.001), when controlling for age (model 2), and for age and sex (model 3), significant associations were recorded, respectively (β = 0.192, p = 0.002), and (β = 0.14, p = 0.015). Conclusion: Participants who recorded higher depressive symptoms had a lower level of PA; regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercises can contribute to prevent depression symptoms in older adults.

The Effect of Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Physical Activity on Depressive Symptoms of Older Adults during COVID-19: A Moderated Mediation Analysis.

Depressive symptoms have been commonly reported in older adults during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Social isolation as a result of social distancing to prevent COVID-19 was reported to increase the level of depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly through the mediating effect of loneliness. Depressive symptoms in older adults can be regulated through health behaviors such as physical activity. Therefore, this study used a moderated mediation model to explain depressive symptoms. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing COVID-19 wave 2 data were used. A total of 296 individuals were excluded due to missing values, leaving a final sample of 6499. Depressive symptoms, social isolation, loneliness, and physical activity were used in the moderated mediation analysis with various demographic and general health variables as covariates. Loneliness was found to significantly mediate the relationship between social isolation and depression. While moderate physical activity significantly moderated the effects of social isolation and loneliness on depressive symptoms, mild physical activity alone significantly moderated the effects of loneliness on depressive symptoms. This study revealed the impact of social isolation on depressive symptoms directly and indirectly mediated by loneliness, with a moderating effect of moderate and mild physical activity in the elderly during COVID-19 in a moderated mediation model.

ASSESSING SYMPTOM NETWORKS OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN OLDER ADULTS: A CROSS-NATIONAL POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Abstract Background The complex relationships across depressive symptoms in older adults may differ across countries. We aimed to generate symptom networks of depressive symptoms in older adults and explore different patterns of depressive symptoms across countries from a mechanism perspective. Methods We used harmonized data on 126,025 individuals ≥65 yrs from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) family data from US, Mexico, UK, China, Israel, European countries, and Korea. We constructed dynamic networks with eight depressive symptoms using cross-lagged panel network analysis. Results We identified two patterns in the networks of depressive symptoms: sadness-centered pattern and non-sadness-centered pattern. In the sadness-centered pattern, “felt sad” was the strongest predictor of other depressive symptoms in the United State (rs=4.38), Mexico (rs=4.96), and European and Israel (rs=4.61). Moreover, “felt depression” was found to have strong relationship with “felt sad” (r=0.586, 0.599, and 0.598, respectively). In the non-sadness-centered pattern, “bothered by little things” had the highest node strength in England (rs=8.16) and “could not get going” had the highest node strength in Korea (rs=10.18). Discussion Our study demonstrated two patterns in the networks of depressive symptoms in older adults. In the sadness-centered pattern, a combined intervention for analyzing the cause of sadness and alleviating it should be considered. Keywords: Global health; Depression; Older adults; Symptom network

VOLUNTEERING, DISCRIMINATION, AND DEPRESSION IN OLD AGE: DOES THE FORM OF DISCRIMINATION PLAY A ROLE?

Abstract Older adults experiencing discrimination have an increased risk of poor mental health, such as depression. Discrimination could happen based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or other factors but the effects of experiencing different forms of discrimination on depression are unknown. Given the evidence that volunteering in old age promotes mental health, this study explores the relationship between volunteering and depressive symptoms among older adults who experience discrimination, and investigates whether such a relationship differs between those experiencing ageism and those experiencing other forms of discrimination. Using a subsample of respondents 65-96 years of age from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study, 1881 older adults who reported experiencing everyday discrimination were included. Discrimination was measured by the six-item Everyday Discrimination Scale. Among them, 955 respondents named age as the reason behind the discrimination experiences, and 926 named other forms (e.g. race). Controlling for health-related variables (e.g., ADLs/IADLs), SES (e.g., income), and sociodemographics (e.g., gender), findings from the weighted OLS regression models showed that volunteering (doing unpaid work for religious, educational, health-related, or other charitable organizations) related to lower depressive symptoms (8-item CES-D, P&amp;lt;.05). When looking at the groups who experienced different forms of discrimination, volunteering continued to have a negative relationship with depressive symptoms for older adults who experienced ageism (p&amp;lt;.01); however, such a relationship disappeared for the group experiencing other forms of discrimination. Discussions will target the importance of understanding the complicated relationships that may exist in volunteering, mental health, and the forms of discrimination that older adults experience.

Sleep, Mental Health, and Cognition Across Diverse Adult Populations

Abstract Sleep is often impaired in late life, raising concerns about the effect of poor sleep on mental and cognitive health in aging individuals. This symposium brings together five rigorous studies that show how poor sleep may be an under-recognized risk factor for mental health and cognitive outcomes in the second half of life. Specifically, this symposium showcases data from a variety of study cohorts (including Midlife in the United Study, Einstein Aging Study, and Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging), using diverse indicators of subjective and objective sleep. Paper 1 focuses on healthcare workers (HCWs), a group critical for the delivery of quality patient care, and examines both individual and joint associations of poor sleep and pain with mental health in HCWs vs. non-HCWs. Paper 2 investigates the association between EEG-measured sleep and depressive symptoms in older adults. Paper 3 explores the relationship between intra-individual variability of sleep and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and identifies gender differences in these associations. Paper 4 establishes the associations of actigraphy-measured sleep and circadian rest-activity rhythms with multiple domains of cognition in older adults. Paper 5 examines the effect of latent dose/duration patterns of common sleep medications on development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The discussant, Dr. Adam Spira, will integrate key findings from these studies, discuss their contributions to the literature, and consider opportunities for future research. This is a Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Aging Interest Group Sponsored Symposium. This is a collaborative symposium between the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, Geroscience, and Health Behavior Change Interest Groups.

THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT BETWEEN DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND LONELINESS IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DIABETES

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and loneliness in older adults with diabetes, and to explore the mediating role of social support in this association. This study was developed as a secondary data analysis using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project in the USA. The sample consisted of 407 older adults aged 50 to 93 years (mean = 64.76, SD=9.03; 50.9% male; 60% married and white). A multi-item survey questionnaire was used to assess loneliness, social support, and depressive symptoms. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms, social support, and loneliness; the macro PROCESS on SPSS was used to examine the mediating effects of social support on the association between depressive symptoms and loneliness. Despite the significant correlation between depressive symptoms and social support, social support and loneliness, and depressive symptoms and loneliness, social support did not mediate the influence of depressive symptoms on loneliness. The results of this study support the need for increased awareness of depressive symptoms in older adults with diabetes. Depressive symptoms should be treated to alleviate loneliness, and more research is needed to explore how other social factors influence the relationship between depressive symptoms and loneliness, thereby preventing a synergistic effect of depressive symptoms and loneliness.

PERSONALITY FACTORS AND ELEVATED DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG MEXICAN ADULTS AGED 50 AND OLDER WITH PAIN

Abstract Older adults with pain are at risk for developing elevated depressive symptoms. Personality factors, including internal locus of control (LOC) and conscientiousness, have been associated with fewer depressive symptoms in older adults. Our objective was to examine LOC and conscientiousness as potential buffers of depressive symptoms among Mexican adults aged 50 and older with pain. We used data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (2015-2018). We included participants who reported frequent pain at both waves (n=2,211). LOC and conscientiousness were measured continuously, with higher values indicating a more internal LOC or conscientious personality. We incorporated depressive symptoms from both waves to create a 4-level depressive symptoms variable: stable low/ no depression (&amp;lt; 5/&amp;lt; 5), recently remitted (5+/&amp;lt; 5), recent onset (&amp;lt; 5/5+), and stable high (5+/5+). We used multinomial logistic regression models to assess the association between personality and depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic variables. At baseline, participants (73.2% women) were on average 67.6 years old. A more internal LOC was associated with a lower risk of stable high depressive symptoms compared to those with stable low/no depression symptoms [Relative Risk Ratio: 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.72, 0.92). Both personality factors were not associated with recently remitted or recent onset depressive symptoms. In a sample of older adults with pain, those with a more internal LOC had decreased risk of experiencing stable high depressive symptoms. Internal LOC may alter the perception of pain. Interventions on orienting individuals to a higher internal LOC may be helpful in pain management by mitigating comorbid depressive symptoms.

The effect of receptive music therapy on older adults with mild cognitive impairment and depression: a randomized controlled trial

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a receptive music therapy intervention on cognitive functions and depressive symptoms in older adults with MCI. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Wuhan, China. Eighty older adults, over 65, who had MCI and depression symptoms were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received usual nursing care plus receptive music therapy intervention four times a week, for eight weeks; the control group received usual nursing care during the same period. The linear regression analysis was used to compare the difference between groups. There was a significant difference in the intervention group for the pre-intervention and post-intervention scores of cognitive function and depression. There was no significant difference in the control group before and after the study period and a significant between-group difference in both cognitive function and depression. In conclusion, receptive music therapy intervention significantly improved cognitive function and reduced depressive symptoms in older adults with MCI. It could be widely used in communities and nursing homes to improve the quality of life of older adults.

Frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults: an eight-year multi-trajectory analysis

BackgroundFrailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms are closely interrelated conditions in the aging population. However, limited research has longitudinally analyzed the concurrent trajectories of these three prominent conditions in older adults in China. This study aimed to explore the eight-year trajectories of frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms, and to identify individual-level and structural-level factors associated with the trajectories.MethodsFour waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2018) were used to identify 6,106 eligible older adults. The main measures included frailty by the frailty index constructed using 30 indicators, cognitive impairment by the summary score of immediate and delayed word recall, figure drawing, serial subtraction, and orientation, and depressive symptoms by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Multi-trajectory models identified the trajectories of frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms over time. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to estimate the associations between individual-level capital factors and one structural factor (hukou and geographic residency) with the identified trajectories, adjusting for demographic characteristics.ResultsFour trajectories emerged: (1) worsening frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, depression (14.0%); (2) declining pre-frailty, declining cognition, borderline depression (20.0%); (3) pre-frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, no depression (29.3%); and (4) physically robust, declining cognition, no depression (36.7%). Using the “physically robust, declining cognition, no depression” as the reference, not working, no social activity participant, worse childhood family financial situation, and poorer adult health were most strongly associated with the “worsening frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, depression” trajectory; worse health during childhood had the highest association with the “declining pre-frailty, declining cognition, borderline depression” trajectory; less education, lower household consumption, and rural hukou had the greatest association with the increased likelihood of the “pre-frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, no depression” trajectory.ConclusionsFindings could inform the understanding of the interrelationship of frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms in older adults in China and may help practitioners detect adults at risk for adverse trajectories to implement strategies for proper care.

Exploring trajectories of depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults: Effects of gender and social activity participation

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to analyze the trajectory of late‐life depressive symptoms and to explore the effect of gender and social activity participation on that trajectory. Data from 4943 older adults aged 60 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) were analyzed using the Latent Growth Curve Model (LGCM) in Mplus. The results were (1) late‐life depressive symptoms increased during the survey; (2) at the initiation level, depression was higher in women than men, while there was no gender difference in the rate of change; and (3) lower social activity participation significantly negatively affected the increase of depressive symptoms in old age at that time. The findings implicated that, first, it is essential to screen for depressive symptoms and prevent or slow the growth of depressive symptoms in geriatric services on time. Second, services to improve depressive symptoms in older adults do not simply work separately by gender. Finally, welfare policymakers should consider how to support older adults to actively participate in social activities to prevent or slow down the growth of depressive symptoms.

Beyond positive psychological processes: does self-rated emotional intelligence still matter in predicting depressive symptoms in older adults?

Beyond positive psychological processes: does self-rated emotional intelligence still matter in predicting depressive symptoms in older adults?

Working hours, social engagement, and depressive symptoms: an extended work-life balance for older adults

BackgroundIn recent years, researchers have been examining the impact of work-life balance (WLB) on mental health, considering it as a potential risk factor. However, it remains unclear whether the traditional understanding of WLB applies to older adults who worked for fewer hours before full retirement and whose children are likely to be independent adults. Therefore, this study aims to propose a modified form of WLB specifically for older adults. Within this context, we hypothesize that an optimum balance between working hours and social engagement protects against depressive symptoms among older adults.MethodWe conducted an analysis using data on 5,751 Korean adults older than 55 years from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging 2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships among working hours, social engagement, and depressive symptoms.ResultsOlder adults who worked fewer than 35 h per week were less likely to experience depressive symptoms than were non-working older adults and those working 35 h or more per week. Additionally, older adults with a high level of informal social participation, thus occurring almost every day or two to three times per week, were less likely to experience depressive symptoms than were those with a low level of such participation (once a month or less). Furthermore, depressive symptoms were less frequent among those who worked fewer than 35 h per week and engaged in a high level of informal social participation compared to non-working older individuals and those with a low level of informal social participation.ConclusionsMaintaining an optimal number of working hours and degree of social engagement are necessary to minimize the risk of depressive symptoms in older adults. Based on these findings, we suggest that fulfillment for work and life and their balance are important for older adults and propose work–life fulfillment balance.

Exploring the relationship-oriented spaces of social networks and depressive symptoms among older adults

The Republic of Korea has the highest suicide rate of older population among OECD countries, and depression is the prevailing factor. While it is well-known that the urban physical environment affects mental health, research on the physical characteristics of spaces remains limited. This study aims to explore relationship-oriented space characteristics that can form social networks and reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. After analyzing the differences in social interaction spaces between high-density and low-density areas for older adults in Seoul, we identified social interaction spaces (parks and traditional markets) that are frequently used based on on-site interview results. Two areas were selected for the questionnaire surveys. The main findings revealed that older adults living in areas with diverse spatial planning and close physical relationships between parks and traditional markets, convenient pedestrian environments, and lower population density of older adults had better social networks and lower depressive symptoms. More significantly, the physical characteristics of parks and traditional markets (convenient accessibility, maximized visibility, connectivity, and territoriality) significantly facilitate social interactions. Those engaging in social interactions within these spaces exhibited significantly better social networks and lower depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of considering relationship-oriented space characteristics in spatial and urban planning.

Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in the Whole Spectrum of Cognitive Aging: Findings from the HELIAD Community Study

AbstractBackgroundDepressive symptoms embody a risk factor for developing age‐related cognitive impairment, while they belong to the most common non‐cognitive symptoms of dementia. The conundrum of the prevalence of depressive symptoms in older adults in the Mediterranean region, but also worldwide is vividly reflected in reported prevalence rates ranging from 7.7% in a study from Malaysia and Australia to 81.1% in India. The present study aimed to shed light on the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe depressive symptoms in the entire spectrum of cognitive aging based on a cohort of randomly selected older adults from municipal rosters of two locations in Attica and central Greece.MethodsBased on a thorough neurological and neuropsychological assessment, the diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) or dementia caused by other diseases (non‐AD) were established in participants of the Hellenic Epidemiological Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD). The presence of depressive symptoms was tapped with the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Scores between 0‐4 point to the absence of depression, while scores between 5‐8, 9‐11, 12‐15 are compatible with mild, moderate and severe depressive symptoms, respectively. Statistical analyses were based on Pearson’s Chi‐squared test and pairwise proportions tests.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms in the total sample (n = 1937 participants; mean age 73,84 SD: 5,427, females: 1148) was 19.5% (mild 13.1%, moderate 3.8%, severe 2.5%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms in older adults without cognitive impairment was 18%, in patients with MCI 27%, in AD 25% and in non‐AD 23.5%. The differences in the distribution of depressive symptoms of different severity across the four groups reached statistical significance (chi‐squared = 28.957, df = 9, p‐value&lt;0.001). The prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms reached its maximum in AD (11.3%) and its lowest in people without cognitive impairment (5.4%).ConclusionsAlmost one out of five older adults suffered from depressive symptoms, with the prevalence and severity increasing significantly in cases of cognitively impaired individuals. These observations highlight the urgent need for raising awareness regarding the presence of depressive symptoms in older adults and improving primary, secondary and tertiary preventive strategies.

Religious Attendance, Childhood Trauma, and Later Life Depressive Symptoms

AbstractBackgroundOlder adults who experienced childhood trauma are at higher risk of developing depression. Depression is linked with structural changes in the brain and alterations in neurotransmitters and inflammation, placing individuals with depression at 2 times as likely to develop dementia than individuals without depression. A growing body of literature supports religion and spirituality as protective factors for mental health, yet few studies have examined the mediating role of religious attendance on the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in later life. Identifying modifiable protective factors to decrease depression and, potentially, dementia is needed to decrease the growing dementia burden.MethodWe analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study in 2006‐2012 to examine the mediating role of religious attendance (in 2010) on the association of childhood trauma (in 2008) with later‐life depressive symptoms (in 2012) among older adults in the U.S. (N = 3,240) aged 60 years and older. A mediation analysis was conducted while controlling for covariates: sex, race, education, age, marital status, body mass index (BMI), and cognition.ResultAged 60‐104 years, participants had a mean age of 72.7 (8.45) years, were 57.9% female, and were 82.9% White. A significant association was found for childhood trauma using 4 self‐report items and self‐reported depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression scale (CES‐D) (β = 0.2124, 95% CI [0.31, 0.1201], p&lt;.001). There was a partial mediating effect of self‐reported religious attendance (high vs. low) between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms (β = 0.017, 95% CI [0.03, 0.003], p&lt;.05) adjusting for sex, race, education, age, marital status, BMI, and cognition.ConclusionReligious attendance plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and later‐life depressive symptoms in older adults. Clinical trials are needed to further examine the effect of religious attendance on depressive symptoms in older adults with a history of childhood trauma, with the potential to decrease the risk of dementia.