Summary: Depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in elderly people

Eligible Participants

The initial sample assessment consisted of 1389 persons. 14.5 percent of participants reported having a baseline score on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). However, not all participants completed the tests. 137 were not followed at 2 years to 4 years, 18 died before the year follow-up assessment, and another 31 had not completed center for Epidemiologic study. This reduced the number of suitable participants to 1189.

The Study

To conduct a longitudinal study, the research consisted of 1389 persons who were born between 1922 and 1932. The persons were selected in western France city of Nantes. The study sought the participation of members by use of mail. Data was based on demographic background; precisely, drug use, medical history, occupation, and habits. They were critical considerations in the vetting process. Participants were asked whether they had suffered from six common diseases, angina, diabetes, infarction, hypercholesterolemia and stroke. Secondly, participants were asked whether they were on prescription drugs; for instance, anxiolytic, antidepressants, hypnotic, sedative, normothymic agents. The group was invited to participate in the study which was conducted between 2 and 4 years as baseline evaluation. The aim of the study was to establish whether depressive symptoms were responsible for cognitive decline in aged people.

Test Protocols

This test was administered by a trained psychologist. The test was aided by a two tailed, conventional 0.05 (α-level) while data was analyzed by use of SAS package. The test examined different sections of psychomotor and cognitive functioning. Depressive symptoms were measured using the CES-D. The test integrated 20 self-report items to examine feeling for the preceding week. Items responded with a score of 0-3 relating to the frequency of the symptom. The CES-D was self-reported questionnaires, which were sent to participants via mail 3 weeks prior to the examination. Data was analyzed using quantitative variables, as well as binary variables. To achieve appropriate data, the examination defined low cognitive functioning at follow-up as MMSE score of 25 or less at 2 years. The test protocol sought to establish whether the symptom score was linked to cognitive decline using multivariate analyses. For clarity, all multivariate analysis were determined by age, career type, education level, gender, the degree of addiction to alcohol or other drugs and the presence of chronic diseases in one’s life. The goal in this case was to establish cognitive performance and psychopathological characteristics that deter an individual to perform in a method. The test protocol applied Linear and logistic regression models to determine whether the CES-D sub-score were predictive. The sub-score was calculated by summing cognitive symptoms, which altered emotions; for instance, sadness and grieve.

Analysis

According to study, it is logical to comprehend that all humans will develop some significant decline in cognitive competence. This is based on the deterioration of the biological framework as a result of factors examined in the above test analysis. According to the results, cognitive decline affects people differently. This is based on the knowledge that people have different severity; for instance, oxygen intakes and free radical damage due to effects of drugs. Others include; chronic low level inflammation, nutrition factors and decline in hormone levels. The study established that depressive symptoms were primarily responsible for cognitive decline. This is related to the early materialization of neurodegenerative process causing depression and dementia. Indeed, respondents clarified that the often experienced fatigue, loss of libido or dejection. This is backed by the reason that somatic symptoms are attributed to physical and not psychiatric causes. The clinical implication presented in the study clarified that cognitive decline was more likely in people reporting persistent and not episodic depression. Secondly, people with higher depression rates are prone to have a faster cognitive loss.

Evaluation

This study was appropriate since it sought to clarify the significance of physical aging to cognitive decline. The study utilized sampling methods by selecting participation from members of sexagenarian or octogenarian communities. The study is imperative to psychiatrist facilities since it aids them to make coherent decisions on how to handle senile-dementia cases. The study also adds value to existing initiatives; for instance, career or drug related mental health problems. Also, the study aids treatment of aged mental cases and mental health cases. This is backed by presented reasons; for instance, physical and psychiatric stresses are primary responsible for the development of dementia conditions. To this effect, the study seeks to establish a guideline mechanism which can guide people on ‘does and don’t’ for the sake of their future mental conditions.

Conclusion

This paper has summarized a longitudinal study on how depressive symptoms are primarily responsible for cognitive decline in elderly people. The paper is divided into four main parts. The study part accessed eligible participants and how the study was grounded. The second section examined the test protocols applied. The third section presented a brief analysis to the results presented by the study. The fourth section examined the importance of the study to the general psychic industry.

Reference

Alpérovitch, A., Verdier-taillefer, M., Dufouil, C., Paterniti, S. (2002). Depressive symptoms and

cognitive decline in elderly people Longitudinal study. Retrieved January 31, 2014

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/181/5/406.long