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Educational level as a protective factor against the influence of depressive symptoms on cognition in older adults: implications for functional independence during a 10-year follow-up

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2021

Irene Cano-López Open the ORCID record for Irene Cano-López [Opens in a new window] ,
Marta Aliño ,
Aránzazu Duque ,
Paula Martínez ,
Mercedes Almela ,
María J. García-Rubio  and
Sara Puig-Perez
Irene Cano-López*
Affiliation:
Research Group in Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
Marta Aliño
Affiliation:
Research Group in Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
Aránzazu Duque
Affiliation:
Research Group in Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
Paula Martínez
Affiliation:
Research Group in Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
Mercedes Almela
Affiliation:
Research Group in Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg, the Netherlands
María J. García-Rubio
Affiliation:
Research Group in Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
Sara Puig-Perez
Affiliation:
Research Group in Psychology and Quality of Life (PsiCal), Valencian International University, Valencia, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Irene Cano-López, Valencian International University, C/Pintor Sorolla, 21, 46002, Valencia, Spain. Phone: +34 961924950. Email: irene.cano@campusviu.es.
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Abstract

Objectives:

To examine whether the educational level moderates the relationship between baseline depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning at 5- and 10-year follow-ups in older adults, considering the association between cognitive functioning and difficulty with activities of daily living (ADL).

Design:

Using a prospective design, a path analysis was performed.

Setting:

In-home, face-to-face interviews and self-administered questionnaires, within the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project.

Participants:

In total, 1,461 participants (mean age = 66.62) were followed up from Wave 1 (baseline) to Wave 2 (at 5 years) and Wave 3 (at 10 years).

Measurements:

Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline. Cognitive functioning and difficulty with ADL were assessed at baseline and at 5 and 10 years.

Results:

Educational level moderates the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning at 5 years (β = 0.07, SE = 0.03, p = 0.04, Cohen’s f2 = 0.02), being depressive symptoms related to poor cognitive functioning only at low educational levels. Cognitive functioning predicts difficulty with ADL at 5 and 10 years (β = −0.08, SE = 0.03, p = 0.008, Cohen’s f2 = 0.01; β = −0.09, SE = 0.03, p = 0.006, Cohen’s f2 = 0.02). The proposed model yielded excellent fit (CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.0001, 90% CI 0.0001–0.03, SRMR = 0.004, and χ2(8) = 7.16, p = 0.52).

Conclusions:

Cognitive reserve may act as a protective factor against the effect of depressive symptoms on cognition in older adults, which, in turn, is relevant to their functional independence.

Keywords

depressive symptomseducationcognitive impairmentagingactivities of daily living (ADL)
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 33 , Special Issue 8: Issue Theme: Longitudinal Studies of Aging , August 2021 , pp. 813 - 825
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2021

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Footnotes

+

These authors are equal contributors.

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