Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:13:42.986Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Influence of Depression on Processing Speed and Executive Function in Nondemented Subjects Aged 75

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 August 2011

Susanne Jungwirth ,
Sonja Zehetmayer ,
Margareta Hinterberger ,
Stephan Kudrnovsky-Moser ,
Silvia Weissgram ,
Karl Heinz Tragl  and
Peter Fischer
Susanne Jungwirth*
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Vienna, Austria
Sonja Zehetmayer
Affiliation:
Section for Medical Statistics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Margareta Hinterberger
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Vienna, Austria
Stephan Kudrnovsky-Moser
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Danube Hospital, Vienna, Austria
Silvia Weissgram
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Vienna, Austria
Karl Heinz Tragl
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Vienna, Austria
Peter Fischer
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Vienna, Austria Department of Psychiatry, Danube Hospital, Vienna, Austria
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Susanne Jungwirth, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Langobardenstraße122, 1220 Vienna, Austria. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Neuropsychological deficits are commonly found to be part of depression in old age and might simultaneously represent early symptoms of dementia. We investigated the influence of depression on processing speed and executive function in subjects who did not develop dementia during the following 5 years to examine whether these neuropsychological dysfunctions are due to depression or are influenced by other causes (e.g., education, cerebral comorbidity). A total of 287 subjects aged 75 (mean: 75.76) were available for analyses. Processing speed was measured by the Trail Making Test-A, Executive Function by the Trail Making Test-B and Verbal Fluency. DSM-IV-criteria were used for diagnosing depression. Cerebral comorbidity (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease), sex, education, antidepressant, and/or benzodiazepine medication, and a history of depression were taken into account as covariates. Univariate analyses and multiple regression analyses were calculated. Higher education was strongly related to better performance in all three psychometric tests. Cerebral comorbidity significantly slowed TMT-A performance and reduced Verbal Fluency scores. In multiple regression analysis depression showed only a minor, slowing influence on TMT-A and TMT-B performance. Depression only had a minor influence on processing speed and executive function in this sample of nondemented subjects. By comparison, the influence of education and cerebral comorbidity was seen to be stronger. (JINS, 2011, 17, 822–831)

Keywords

ElderlyCognitionGeriatric depressionVerbal fluencyTrail Making TestVITA study
Type
Regular Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 17 , Issue 5 , September 2011 , pp. 822 - 831
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Authors Jungwirth and Zehetmayer contributed equally to this work.

References

Amodio, P., Wenin, H., Del Piccolo, F., Mapelli, D., Montagnese, S., Peelegrine, A., Umiltà, C. (2002). Variability of trail making test, symbol digit test and line trail test in normal people. A normative study taking into account age-dependent decline and sociobiological variables. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 14, 117–131.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baudic, S., Tzortzis, C., Barba, G.D., Traykov, L. (2004). Executive deficits in elderly patients with major unipolar depression. Journal of the Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 17, 195–201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berres, M., Monsch, A.U., Bernasconi, F., Thalmann, B., Stähelin, H.B. (2000). Normal ranges of neuropsychological tests for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 77, 195–199.Google ScholarPubMed
Bhalla, R.K., Butters, M.A., Zmuda, M.D., Seligman, K., Mulsant, B.H., Pollock, B.G., Reynolds, C.F. (2005). Does education moderate neuropsychological impairment in late-life depression? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20, 413–417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butters, M.A., Whyte, E.M., Nebes, R.D., Begley, A.E., Dew, M.A., Mulsant, B.H., Becker, J.T. (2004). The nature and determinants of neuropsychology functioning in late-life depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 61, 587–595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butters, M.A., Young, J.B., Lopez, O., Aizenstein, H.J., Mulsant, B.H., Reynolds, C.F., Becker, J.T. (2008). Pathways linking late-life depression to persistent cognitive impairment and dementia. Dialogues in Clinical Neurosciene, 10, 345–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chodosh, J., Kado, D.M., Seeman, T.E., Karlamangla, A.S. (2007). Depressive symptoms as a predictor of cognitive decline: MacArthur studies of successful aging. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15, 406–415.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elderkin-Thompson, V., Kumar, A., Bilker, W.B., Dunkin, J.J., Mintz, J., Moberg, P.J., Gur, R.E. (2003). Neuropsychological deficits among patients with late onset minor and major depression. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 18, 529–549.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fazekas, F., Chawluk, J.B., Alavi, A., Hurtig, H.I., Zimmermann, R.A. (1987). MR signal abnormalities at 1.5 T in Alzheimer's dementia and normal aging. AJR American Journal of Roentgenology, 8, 421–426.Google Scholar
Fischer, P., Zehetmayer, S., Jungwirth, S., Weissgram, S., Krampla, W., Hinterberger, M., Tragl, K.H. (2008). Risk factors for Alzheimer dementia in a community-based birth cohort at the age of 75 years. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 25, 501–507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fischer, P., Jungwirth, S., Krampla, W., Weissgram, S., Kirchmeyr, W., Schreiber, W., Tragl, K.H. (2002). Vienna Transdanube Aging “VITA”: Study design, recruitment strategies and level of participation. Journal of Neural Transmission, Supplement, 62, 103–114.Google Scholar
Fischer, P., Jungwirth, S., Zehetmayer, S., Weissgram, S., Hoenigschnabl, S., Gelpi, E., Tragl, K.H. (2007). Conversion from subtypes of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer dementia. Neurology, 68, 288–291.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fuld, P.A. (1980). Guaranteed stimulus-procession the evaluation of memory and learning. Cortex, 16, 255–271.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gabryelewicz, T., Styczynska, M., Luczywek, E., Barczak, A., Pfeffer, A., Androsiuk, W., Barcikowska, M. (2007). The rate of conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia: Predictive role of depression. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22, 563–567.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hamilton, M. (1960). A rating scale for depression. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry, 5, 165–173.Google Scholar
Hashimoto, R., Meguro, K., Lee, E., Kasai, M., Ishii, H., Yamaguchi, S. (2006). Effect of age and education on the Trail Making Test and determination of normative data for Japanese elderly people: The Tajiri Project. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 60, 422–428.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henry, J.D., Crawford, J.R. (2005). A meta-analytic review of verbal fluency deficits in depression. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 27, 78–101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hester, R.L., Kinsella, G.J., Ong, B., McGregor, J. (2005). Demographic influences on baseline and derived scores from the trail making test in healthy older Australian adults. Clinical Neuropsychology, 19, 45–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, C.P., Berg, L., Danziger, W.L., Coben, L.A., Martin, R.L. (1982). A new clinical scale for the staging of dementia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 566–572.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jorm, A.F., Christensen, H., Henderson, A.S., Korten, A.E., Mackinnon, A.J., Scott, R. (1994). Complaints of cognitive decline in the elderly: A comparison of reports by subjects and informants in a community survey. Psychological Medicine, 24, 365–374.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Judd, L.L., Rapaport, M.H., Paulus, M.P., Brown, J.L. (1994). Subsyndromal symptomatic depression: A new mood disorder? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Supplement, 55, 18–28.Google ScholarPubMed
Kempler, D., Teng, E.L., Dick, M., Taussig, I.M., Davis, D.S. (1998). The effects of age, education, and ethnicity on verbal fluency. Journal of the International Neuropsychology Society, 4, 531–538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kessler, R.C., Zhao, S., Blazer, D.G., Swartz, M. (1997). Prevalence, correlates, and course of minor depression and major depression in the national comorbidity survey. Journal of Affective Disorders, 45, 19–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keys, B.A., White, D.A. (2000). Exploring the relationship between age, executive abilities, and psychomotor speed. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 6, 76–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krishnan, K.R., Taylor, W.D., McQuoid, D.R., McFall, J.R., Payne, M.E., Provenzale, J.M., Steffens, D.C. (2004). Clinical characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging-defined subcortical ischemic depression. Biological Psychiatry, 23, 519–522.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawton, M., Brody, E. (1969). Assessment of older people: Selfmaintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist, 9, 179–186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lockwood, K.A., Alexopoulos, G.S., Kakuma, T., Van Gorp, W.G. (2000). Subtypes of cognitive impairment in depressed older adults. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 8, 201–208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lockwood, K.A., Alexopoulos, G.S., van Gorp, W.G. (2002). Executive dysfunction in geriatric depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 1119–1126.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McKeith, I.G., Galasko, D., Kosaka, K., Perry, E.K., Dickson, D.W., Hansen, L.A., Perry, R.H. (1996). Consensus guidelines for the clinical and pathologic diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB): Report of the consortium on DLB international workshop. Neurology, 47, 1113–1124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKhann, G., Drachman, D., Folstein, M., Katzmann, R., Price, D., Stadlan, E.M. (1984). Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Report of the NINCDS-ADRDA work group under the auspices of department of health and human services task force on Alzheimer's disease. Neurology, 34, 939–944.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morris, J.C., Heyman, A., Mohs, R.C., Hughes, J.P., van Belle, G., Fillenbaum, G., Clark, C. (1989). The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Part I. Clinical and neuropsychological assessment of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology, 39, 1159–1165.Google Scholar
Nebes, R.D., Butters, M.A., Mulsant, B.H., Pollock, B.G., Zmuda, M.D., Houck, P.R., Reynolds, C.F., III (2000). Decreased working memory and processing speed mediate cognitive impairment in geriatric depression. Psychological Medicine, 30, 679–691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pálsson, S., Johansson, B., Berg, S., Skoog, I. (2000). A population study on the influence of depression on neuropsychological functioning in 85-year-olds. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 101, 185–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Panza, F., Frisardi, F., Capurso, C., D'Introno, A., Colacicco, A.M., Imbimbo, B.P., Solfrizzi, V. (2010). Late-life depression, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia: Possible continuum? American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, 98–116.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Porter, R.J., Bourke, C., Gallagher, P. (2007). Neuropsychological impairment in major depression: Its nature, origin and clinical significance. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41, 115–128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reitan, R.M. (1956). Trail Making Test. Manual for administration, scoring, and interpretation. Indianapolis: Indiana University.Google Scholar
Román, G.C., Tatemichi, T.K., Erkinjuntti, T., Cummings, J.L., Masdeu, J.C., Garcia, J.H., Scheinberg, P. (1993). Vascular dementia: Diagnostic criteria for research studies. Report of the NINDS-AIREN international workshop. Neurology, 43, 250–260.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ruff, R.M., Light, R.H., Parker, S.B., Levin, H.S. (1997). The psychological construct of word fluency. Brain Language, 57, 394–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salthouse, T.A. (2000). Aging and measures of processing speed. Biological Psychology, 54, 35–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saß, H., Wittchen, H.U., Zaudig, M. (1996). Diagnostisches und statistisches Manual psychischer Störungen DSM-IV (1st ed.). Göttingen: Hogrefe.Google Scholar
Schaie, K.W. (1994). The course of adult intellectual development. American Psychologist, 49, 304–313.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheikh, J.I., Yesavage, J.A. (1986). Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontology, 5, 165–173.Google Scholar
Sheline, Y.I., Barch, D.M., Gersing, K., Pieper, C., Welsh-Bohmer, K., Steffens, D.C., Doraiswamy, P.M. (2006). Cognitive Function in late life depression: Relationships to depression severity, cerebrovascular risk factors and processing speed. Biological Psychiatry, 60, 58–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spreen, O., Strauss, E. (1998). A Compendium of neuropsychological test: Administration, norms, and commentary. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Steffens, D.C., Potter, G.G. (2007). Geriatric depression and cognitive impairment. Psychological Medicine, 38, 163–175. doi:10.1017/S003329170700102XCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
The Lund and Manchester Groups. (1994). Clinical and neuropathological criteria for frontotemporal dementia. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry, 57, 416–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van der Elst, W., Van Boxtel, M.P., Van Breukelen, G.J., Jolles, J. (2006). Normative data for Animal, Profession, and Letter M Naming verbal fluency tests for Dutch speaking participants and the effects of age, education, and sex. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 12, 80–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wittchen, H.U., Wunderlich, U., Gruschwitz, S., Zaudig, M. (1996). Strukturiertes Klinisches Interview für DSM-IV (SKID). Göttingen: Beltz-Test.Google Scholar
Yochim, B.P., MacNeill, S.E., Lichtenberg, P.A. (2006). “Vascular Depression” predicts verbal fluency in older adults. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 28, 495–508.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zakzanis, K.K., Leach, L., Kaplan, E. (1999). Neuropsychological differential diagnosis. The Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Jungwirth supplementary material

Jungwirth supplementary material

Download Jungwirth supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 17.6 KB