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A comparison of neurocognitive impairment in younger and older adults with major depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2008

A. J. Thomas ,
P. Gallagher ,
L. J. Robinson ,
R. J. Porter ,
A. H. Young ,
I. N. Ferrier  and
J. T. O'Brien
A. J. Thomas*
Affiliation:
Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK
P. Gallagher
Affiliation:
School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Newcastle University, UK
L. J. Robinson
Affiliation:
School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Newcastle University, UK
R. J. Porter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand
A. H. Young
Affiliation:
School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Newcastle University, UK
I. N. Ferrier
Affiliation:
School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Newcastle University, UK
J. T. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr A. J. Thomas, Wolfson Research Centre, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BE, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Neurocognitive impairment is a well-recognized feature of depression that has been reported in younger and older adults. Similar deficits occur with ageing and it is unclear whether the greater deficits in late-life depression are an ageing-related phenomenon or due to a difference in the nature of late-life depression itself. We hypothesized that ageing alone would not fully explain the increased neurocognitive impairment in late-life depression but that differences in the illness explain the greater decrements in memory and executive function.

Method

Comparison of the neuropsychological performance of younger (<60 years) and older (⩾60 years) adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy comparison subjects. Scores for each depression group were normalized against their respective age-matched control group and the primary comparisons were on four neurocognitive domains: (i) attention and executive function; (ii) verbal learning and memory; (iii) visuospatial learning and memory; and (iv) motor speed.

Results

We recruited 75 subjects with MDD [<60 years (n=44), ⩾60 years (n=31)] and 82 psychiatrically healthy comparison subjects [<60 years (n=42), ⩾60 years (n=40)]. The late-life depression group had greater impairment in verbal learning and memory and motor speed but not in executive function. The two depressed groups did not differ in depression severity, global cognitive function, intelligence or education.

Conclusions

Late-life depression is associated with more severe impairment in verbal learning and memory and motor speed than depression in earlier adult life and this is not due to ageing alone.

Keywords

Depressiongeriatriclate-lifeneuropsychologyunipolar
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 5 , May 2009 , pp. 725 - 733
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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