Examining the temporal associations between self-reported memory problems and depressive symptoms in older adults

Abstract

Objectives: Older adults commonly report problems with their memory which can elicit sadness and worry about future development of cognitive impairment. Conversely, ongoing depressive symptoms can negatively impact older adults’ perceptions of their memory performance. The current study examined the longitudinal associations between self-reported memory problems and depressive symptoms to explore which symptom tends to appear first.

Method: Two datasets from ongoing observational, longitudinal studies of aging (Memory and Aging Project; Minority Aging Research Study) were used for secondary analyses. Older adults (n = 1,724; M_age = 77.03; SD = 7.54; 76.80% female; 32.26% Black) completed up to 18 annual assessments of self-reported memory (two items: perceived decline in memory and frequency of memory problems) and depressive symptoms. Multilevel models were used to examine intra-individual variability and time-lagged relationships between self-reported memory and depressive symptoms.

Results: Concurrently, self-reported memory problems and depressive symptoms were significantly related; at times when older adults reported poorer memory, they also reported more depressive symptoms, regardless of the type of memory self-report. Prospectively, perceived memory decline predicted future depressive symptoms, but depressive symptoms did not predict future reports of memory decline. Self-reported frequency of memory problems did not predict future depressive symptoms or vice versa.

Conclusion: The current study’s findings suggest a temporal relationship between perceived memory decline and depressive symptoms, such that perceived memory decline can lead to future depressive symptoms. These findings can inform future studies focused on developing a standardized assessment of self-reported memory that is separable from depressive symptoms.

Keywords:

• Memory
• depressive symptoms
• self-report
• temporality

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the Minority Aging Research Study (MARS) and the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP) research teams and the participants for their contributions to the two studies.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (RADC). Any request to produce the data on which this manuscript is based for examination should be directed to the RADC (https://www.radc.rush.edu/). I am unable to personally attest to the provision of data, but would assist the editor or other researchers with any information needed if data were to be requested from RADC.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by National Institute on Aging under Grant (R01AG055398) to N.H; (R01AG022018) to L.L.B.; and (R01AG017917) to D.A.B.