Relationship of Late-life Depression and Daily Functional Impairment

Depression is a prevalent and disabling condition §associated with functional impairment in the §elderly. This work investigated the role of §cognitive mediators in the relationship of §depressive symptoms and functional performance in a §large US cohort of community-dwelling older adults. §In this three-year Advanced Cognitive Training for §Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) randomized, §controlled trial, baseline depressive symptoms had §no direct effect on functional change in three §years. However, baseline depressive symptoms §inversely influenced baseline functional performance §directly or indirectly through cognitive mediators. §The effect of baseline processing speed ability on §baseline functional performance was mediated by §memory and reasoning abilities. At the same time, §reasoning ability change in three years was §significant mediators between depressive symptoms §and functional performance change. The results of §this study can be used to predict functional status §of the elderly over time. They can serve as the §basis of intervention or prevention of functional §impairment due to depressive symptoms among the §elderly.