Temporal Associations Between Cognitive Impairment and Depression in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Depression and cognitive impairment frequently co-occur in older adults, but their temporal relationship remains unclear. While depression is often considered a risk factor for cognitive decline, evidence is mixed, particularly in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia (MCI/ED). This study analyzed longitudinal data from 1086 participants (M = 74.49, SD = 7.24) in the SMART4MD clinical trial, conducted in Spain and Sweden over 18 months, with assessments every six months. Cognitive impairment was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination, and depression was assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Findings revealed a concurrent association between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment. In regression mixed analysis, depression levels predicted inc

SUBMITTER: Herrera-Imbroda J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12293492 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature