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Associations Between a History of Depression and Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults in Shandong, China

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Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between depression and cognitive performance among older adults living in Shandong province. Data were derived from the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO-SAGE) China Wave 1 aged 50 and over residing in Shandong province (n = 1926). Cognitive performance was assessed by overall cognitive score. Data were analysed by multivariate linear regression. In rural Shandong, having a history of depression (− 4.0; p < 0.001), female (− 9.3; p < 0.001), and poor household wealth (− 8.9; p < 0.001) and primary level of education (− 6.4; p < 0.001) were main factors associated with their poor cognitive performance. Notably, in urban Shandong, lowest household wealth (− 12.5; p < 0.001) and not having health insurance (− 9.7; p < 0.001) were significant predictors of adverse cognitive performance. Findings could help inform policy in monitoring depressive symptoms and cognitive performance among older adults in China.

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Acknowledgements

This paper uses data from Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) is supported by the World Health Organization and the US National Institute on Aging. The authors wish to thank Peter Sbirakos for editorial guidance on various stages of the manuscript.

Funding

This study was supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Understanding ageing in China and Australia (DP160103023) and ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR CE1101029 and CE170100005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Bo Yuan

  2. Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, 54 Mills Road, Acton, Canberra, 2601, Australia

    Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan

  3. Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan

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  1. Bo Yuan
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Correspondence to Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan.

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Ethics Approval

Human Ethics approval was received from the Chair of the Science & Medical Delegated Ethics Review Committee, the Australian National University on 29/08/2017 (Protocol: 2017/636 Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Ability among Aging Chinese in Shandong Province).

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Yuan, B., Yiengprugsawan, V. Associations Between a History of Depression and Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults in Shandong, China. Community Ment Health J 56, 116–125 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00461-1

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