A population study on the influence of depression on neuropsychological functioning in 85-year-olds.
OBJECTIVE
To examine cognitive function in very old depressed individuals.


METHODS
Individuals with major depression (MDS) or dysthymia according to the DSM-III-R were compared to mentally healthy regarding tests of verbal ability, inductive logical reasoning, spatial ability, perceptual speed, basic arithmetics, primary memory and secondary memory in a population-based sample of 85-year-olds.


RESULTS
Individuals with MDS performed worse than mentally healthy individuals in tests of verbal ability, inductive logical reasoning, spatial ability, perceptual speed and secondary memory. There were no differences between the groups regarding basic arithmetics and primary memory. The poor test performance was mainly associated with psychomotor retardation and decreased concentration in depressed individuals. Memory complaints were not correlated to poor test performance, neither in the mentally healthy nor in the depressed.


CONCLUSIONS
MDS in elderly individuals is associated with reduced cognitive test performance, especially regarding more complex and time-demanding tests and in tests of secondary memory.
Pálsson
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Johansson
B
B
Berg
S
S
Skoog
I
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results