Depressive Symptoms Mediate Associations between Subjective Memory Complaints, Cognitive Ability, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Abstract

Objectives: Cognitive ability (CA) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) performance are essential for productive aging. Therefore, it is important to understand if other common issues such as subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and depressive symptoms are related to CA and IADLs, and explore the nature of those relationships. This study aims to explore 1) the associations between SMCs, depressive symptoms, CA, and IADL performance and 2) the role of depressive symptoms in these associations. Method: The study sample included 1,621 community-dwelling oldest-old from the Health and Retirement Study. Results: SMCs were significantly and positively associated with cognitive decline and limitations in IADL performance. Additionally, depressive symptoms mediated the associations between SMCs and cognitive decline and between SMCs and limitations in IADL performance. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms associated with SMCs negatively affect CA and IADL performance. Therefore, healthcare providers should consider and assess SMCs and depressive symptoms in the oldest-old.

Keywords:

• Cognitive ability
• depressive symptoms
• instrumental activities of daily living
• older adults
• subjective memory complaints

Acknowledgements

This article is based on the first author’s doctoral dissertation, submitted to New York University, in 2021. The contents of this paper do not represent the views of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Paralyzed Veterans of America