title: Religious attendance reduces cognitive decline among older women with high levels of depressive symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing evidence that regular attendance at religious functions is associated with less cognitive decline (CD). However, little research has investigated factors that may moderate the religious attendance-CD relationship. The present study examined the effects of gender and depressive symptoms on the relationship between religious attendance and CD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from waves 1 and 2 of the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly, which were 3 years apart. Participants consisted of a sample of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older (N = 2,938). Linear regression analyses were conducted controlling for important demographic-, socioeconomic-, and health-related variables. Cognitive functioning was assessed at both waves to examine change in errors over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater religious attendance was related to less CD. In addition, there was a three-way interaction between religious attendance, gender, and depressive symptoms in predicting CD. Among women with higher levels of depressive symptoms, those who less frequently attended religious services experienced greater CD than those who more frequently attended religious services. The interaction between attendance and depressive symptoms in men did not reach significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Religious attendance may offer mental stimulation that helps to maintain cognitive functioning in later life, particularly among older depressed women. Given the possible benefits religious attendance may have on cognitive functioning, it may be appropriate in certain instances for clinicians to recommend that clients reengage in religious activities they may have given up as a result of their depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Corsentino
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sachs-Ericsson
authors.forename: Dan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Blazer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D026443:Spiritual Therapies; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
references.citation: Neurology. 2002 Dec 24;59(12):1910-4
references.pmid: 12499482
references.citation: J Gerontol. 1966 Oct;21(4):556-9
references.pmid: 5918309
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1997 Nov;52(6):S306-16
references.pmid: 9403524
references.citation: J Gerontol. 1991 Nov;46(6):M210-5
references.pmid: 1834726
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 2003 Oct;60(10):1385-9
references.pmid: 14568808
references.citation: Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2005 Apr;30(3):225-42
references.pmid: 15511597
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2003 Jan;58(1):S21-9
references.pmid: 12496305
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 1997 Jun;87(6):957-61
references.pmid: 9224176
references.citation: Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2322-6
references.pmid: 15623694
references.citation: Ann Intern Med. 1999 Aug 3;131(3):165-73
references.pmid: 10428732
references.citation: Health Psychol. 2000 May;19(3):211-22
references.pmid: 10868765
references.citation: J Gerontol. 1976 Nov;31(6):654-9
references.pmid: 977922
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 1975 Oct;23(10):433-41
references.pmid: 1159263
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1997 Nov;52(6):S294-305
references.pmid: 9403523
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 2003 May;60(5):753-9
references.pmid: 12756140
references.citation: Gerontologist. 1997 Feb;37(1):75-88
references.pmid: 9046709
references.citation: J Nerv Ment Dis. 2000 Nov;188(11):772-6
references.pmid: 11093380
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 Jan;61(1):P3-9
references.pmid: 16399939
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2006 Oct;63(8):2228-41
references.pmid: 16797809
references.citation: Psychosom Med. 2006 May-Jun;68(3):382-5
references.pmid: 16738068
references.citation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 May;63(5):480-6
references.pmid: 18511751
references.citation: Gerontology. 2000 Jul-Aug;46(4):219-27
references.pmid: 10859462
references.citation: J Am Board Fam Med. 2006 Mar-Apr;19(2):103-9
references.pmid: 16513898
references.citation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 May;63(5):478-9
references.pmid: 18511750
references.citation: Int J Neurosci. 1991 Apr;57(3-4):167-78
references.pmid: 1938160
references.citation: Neuroepidemiology. 2007;29(1-2):125-32
references.pmid: 17975326
references.citation: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005 May;13(5):402-8
references.pmid: 15879589
references.citation: J Gerontol. 1994 May;49(3):S137-45
references.pmid: 8169348
references.citation: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 May;61(3):P129-36
references.pmid: 16670181
references.citation: J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2002 Mar;8(3):448-60
references.pmid: 11939702
references.citation: Transcult Psychiatry. 2005 Dec;42(4):657-75
references.pmid: 16570522
references.citation: Am J Psychiatry. 2003 May;160(5):857-66
references.pmid: 12727688
references.citation: J Consult Clin Psychol. 1984 Aug;52(4):712-3
references.pmid: 6470300
references.citation: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005 Nov;13(11):968-75
references.pmid: 16286440
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 1987 May;35(5):412-6
references.pmid: 3571790
references.citation: Prev Med. 2006 Apr;42(4):309-12
references.pmid: 16445971
references.citation: Arch Neurol. 2006 Mar;63(3):435-40
references.pmid: 16533972
references.citation: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2003 Aug;25(5):625-33
references.pmid: 12815500