Change of Cognitive Functions in the Geriatric Depression Living in the Institution: 1 Year Follow-Up Study

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive impairment often occurs with geriatric depression, and may persist despite remission of depression. The authors investigated change of cognitive functions in geriatric depression according to time interval to identify whether cognitive impairment may persist or not. METHODS: At baseline and 1 year follow-up, total 88 non-demented participants living in the asylum for the aged had a clinical examination that included depression assessment (SGDS-K Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Korean version) and neuropsychological test (frontal lobe function test and CERAD-K the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease). We divided the elderly into two groups (depressed 27, non-depressed 61) and evaluated the differences in change of cognitive functions. RESULTS: Depressed group had lower scores on the word delayed recall test and construction recall test than non-depressed group at one-year follow-up. Except executive function, there was no significant difference in cognitive change between two groups according to time interval. CONCLSION These results support previous observations that cognitive impairment in geriatric depression may persist, especially in the executive function. Timely identification of executive function of depressed older adults may lead to coping strategies that will improve the prognosis of geriatric depression.