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Neuropsychological Predictors of Dementia in Late-Life Major Depressive Disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Potter, GG; Wagner, HR; Burke, JR; Plassman, BL; Welsh-Bohmer, KA; Steffens, DC
Published in: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
March 11, 2012

OBJECTIVE:: Major depressive disorder is a likely risk factor for dementia, but some cases of major depressive disorder in older adults may actually represent a prodrome of this condition. The purpose of this study was to use neuropsychological test scores to predict conversion to dementia in a sample of depressed older adults diagnosed as nondemented at the time of neuropsychological testing. DESIGN:: Longitudinal, with mean follow-up of 5.45 years. SETTING:: Outpatient depression treatment study at Duke University. PARTICIPANTS:: Thirty nondemented individuals depressed at the time of neuropsychological testing and later diagnosed with incident dementia; 149 nondemented individuals depressed at the time of neuropsychological testing and a diagnosis of cognitively normal. METHODOLOGY:: All participants received clinical assessment of depression, were assessed to rule out prevalent dementia at the time of study enrollment, completed neuropsychological testing at the time of study enrollment, and were diagnosed for cognitive disorders on an annual basis. RESULTS:: Nondemented, acutely depressed older adults who converted to dementia during the study period exhibited broadly lower cognitive performances at baseline than acutely depressed individuals who remained cognitively normal. Discriminant function analysis indicated that 2 neuropsychological tests, Recognition Memory (from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease neuropsychological battery) and Trail Making B, best predicted dementia conversion. CONCLUSIONS:: Depressed older adults with cognitive deficits in the domains of memory and executive functions during acute depression are at higher risk for developing dementia. Some cases of late-life depression may reflect a prodrome of dementia in which clinical manifestation of mood changes may co-occur with emerging cognitive deficits.

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Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

March 11, 2012

Related Subject Headings

  • Geriatrics
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 4203 Health services and systems
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

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Potter, G. G., Wagner, H. R., Burke, J. R., Plassman, B. L., Welsh-Bohmer, K. A., & Steffens, D. C. (2012). Neuropsychological Predictors of Dementia in Late-Life Major Depressive Disorder. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e318248764e
Potter, G. G., H. R. Wagner, J. R. Burke, B. L. Plassman, K. A. Welsh-Bohmer, and D. C. Steffens. “Neuropsychological Predictors of Dementia in Late-Life Major Depressive Disorder.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, March 11, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e318248764e.
Potter GG, Wagner HR, Burke JR, Plassman BL, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Steffens DC. Neuropsychological Predictors of Dementia in Late-Life Major Depressive Disorder. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012 Mar 11;
Potter, G. G., et al. “Neuropsychological Predictors of Dementia in Late-Life Major Depressive Disorder.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, Mar. 2012. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/JGP.0b013e318248764e.
Potter GG, Wagner HR, Burke JR, Plassman BL, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Steffens DC. Neuropsychological Predictors of Dementia in Late-Life Major Depressive Disorder. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012 Mar 11;
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

March 11, 2012

Related Subject Headings

  • Geriatrics
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 4203 Health services and systems
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences