Depressive Syndromes and Functional Disability in Dementia

Abstract

The goals of this study were to assess (1) the prevalence of major and minor depression in Alzheimer's disease (AD), ischemic vascular dementia (IVD), and mixed dementia (AD/IVD); (2) demographic and clinical variables that may be associated with depression; and (3) the relationship between depression severity and the level of functional impairment and cognitive decline. Demographic variables, depression diagnoses, Mini-Mental State Examination scores, and Blessed Roth Dementia Rating Scale scores were compared in patients with AD (N = 582), IVD (N = 48), and mixed dementia (N = 61) using analysis of variance and linear regression models. Data were collected using standardized rating instruments at the time of the patients' initial evaluations at the University dementia clinics. The results were that (1) depression was related to lower education, (2) major depression was more prevalent in IVD compared to probable AD, and (3) functional impairment was greater in patients with minor or major depression compared to patients without depression. Our data suggest that the level of functional disability in dementia may be related to severity of depression. Additional studies are needed to validate our results and examine the contribution of additional neurobiologic factors to the pathophysiology of depression in dementia.

The Prevalence and Predictors of Severe Depression Among the Elderly in Malaysia

“…Depression may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease or an increased risk to Alzheimer's disease Cognitive impairment is a significant predictor for depressive symptoms (Minicuci et al 2002). It is reported that approximately 30 to 40 % of those who have dementia will develop depression in the course of their disease (Hargrave et al 2000). Depression can amplify cognitive impairment in the elderly (Boland 2000) and the combination of cognitive impairment and depression increases the odds of mortality and morbidity (Luis et al 2003).…”

A Dual-Modal Virtual Reality Kitchen for (Re)Learning of Everyday Cooking Activities in Alzheimer's Disease

“…Everyday action errors are a serious concern in dementia (Giovannetti, Libon, Buxbaum, & Schwartz, 2002;Giovannetti, Schwartz, & Buxbaum, 2007;Giovannetti et al, 2008). In fact, everyday action impairment is one of the diagnostic criteria of Alzheimer's disease and is associated with many serious consequences, including institutionalization, depression, and death (Adam, Van der Linden, Juillerat, & Salmon, 2000;Hargrave, Reed, & Mungus, 2000;Knopman, Kitto, Deinard, & Heiring, 1988;Noale et al, 2003).…”

The Coffee Challenge: A new method for the study of everyday action errors

“…Quite often, action errors pose negative consequences for employment and independent living in such high functioning populations (Asikainen, Kaste, & Sarna, 1996;Nadeau, 2005). In individuals with moderate to severe neuropsychological deficits, action performance may be more seriously impaired and linked to numerous negative outcomes, including institutionalization, depression, and death (Adam, van der Linden, Jullerat, & Salmon, 2000;Hargrave, Reed, & Mungus, 2000;Knopman, Berg, & Thomas, 1999;Noale, Maggi, & Minicuci, 2003). Studies by Schwartz and colleagues (Schwartz, Buxbaum, Montgomery, Lee, & Coslett, 1999;Schwartz et al, 1998) have shown that action deficits in moderately to severely impaired neuropsychological populations may be best understood as an exaggeration of the normal tendency to commit errors of action in states of fatigue or distraction, when cognitive resources are diminished.…”