AUTHOR=Wu Zhangying , Zhong Xiaomei , Peng Qi , Chen Ben , Zhang Min , Zhou Huarong , Mai Naikeng , Huang Xingxiao , Ning Yuping 

TITLE=Longitudinal Association Between Cognition and Depression in Patients With Late-Life Depression: A Cross-Lagged Design Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.577058

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.577058

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> Although previous studies have extensively confirmed the cross-sectional relationship between cognitive impairment and depression in depressed elderly patients, the findings of their longitudinal associations are still mixed. The purpose of this study was to explore the two-way causal relationship between depression symptoms and cognition in patients with late-life depression (LLD).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A total of 90 patients with LLD were assessed across two time points (baseline and 1-year follow up) on measures of 3 aspects of cognition and depressive symptoms. The data were then fitted to a structural equation model to examine two cross-lagged effects.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Depressive symptoms predicted a decline in executive function (β = 0.864, <italic>p</italic> = 0.049) but not vice versa. Moreover, depressive symptoms were predicted by a decline in scores of working memory test (β = −0.406, <italic>p</italic> = 0.023), respectively. None of the relationships between the two factors was bidirectional.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> These results provide robust evidence that the relationship between cognition and depressive symptoms is unidirectional. Depressive symptoms may be a risk factor for cognitive decline. The decrease of information processing speed predicts depressive symptoms.</p>