Interaction between Subjective Memory Decline and Depression Symptom Intensity in Older People. Results of the Second Wave of Cognition of Older People, Education, Recreational Activities, Nutrition, Comorbidities, and Functional Capacity Studies (COPERNICUS)

Sławomir Kujawski; Agnieszka Kujawska; Radosław Perkowski; Joanna Androsiuk-Perkowska; Weronika Hajec; Małgorzata Kwiatkowska; Natalia Skierkowska; Jakub Husejko; Daria Bieniek; Julia L Newton; Paweł Zalewski; Kornelia Kędziora-Kornatowska

doi:10.3390/jcm10071334

Interaction between Subjective Memory Decline and Depression Symptom Intensity in Older People. Results of the Second Wave of Cognition of Older People, Education, Recreational Activities, Nutrition, Comorbidities, and Functional Capacity Studies (COPERNICUS)

J Clin Med. 2021 Mar 24;10(7):1334. doi: 10.3390/jcm10071334.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Ergonomics and Postgraduate Education, Division of Ergonomics and Exercise Physiology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
² Department of Geriatrics, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
³ Department of Physiology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition Disorders, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
⁵ Population Health Sciences Institute, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4AX, UK.

Abstract

Background: Prevalence of subjective memory impairment (SMC), with or without objective memory impairment, and the mediating role of depression symptom intensity was examined in older people.

Methods: n = 205 subjects (60 years old and older) were examined and followed up at two years. Cognitive function was examined using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Delayed Recall (DR) subtest. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used as a screening tool for depression. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed models.

Results: A total of 144 subjects (70.24%) had SMC. MoCA Delayed Recall scores were not significantly changed in relation to time and SMC. Dynamics of SMC significantly influenced changes in GDS score (p = 0.008).

Conclusions: SMC and objective memory impairment do not fully overlap each other. Subjects without SMC for longer than two years noted less intensity of depression symptoms in comparison to subgroup with SMC. However, occurrence of SMC in subjects who were previously free of SMC, was not related to increase in depression symptom intensity.

Keywords: cognitive function; gerontology; older people.