The reciprocal relationship between depression and cognition in middle-aged and elderly people:based on CHARLS data from 2011-2015
WANG Qingqing
DU Sidan
YUAN Miao
LI Yan
Abstract：Objective:To explore the causal relationship between cognitive function and depression using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS).This analysis aims to offer insight for the development of effective intervention strategies to prevent depression and dementia in the elderly.Methods:Study subjects were selected from the samples from 2011-2015 in the CHARLS database,and 3,389 study subjects were finally selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Cross-lagged panel model(CLPM)was used to explore the relationship between depression and cognition in middle-aged and older adults.Results:The research subjects were divided into the middle-aged group(45～60 years old)and the elderly group(>60 years old)according to age.There were 2,341 research subjects in the middle-aged group and 1,048 research subjects in the elderly group.There were statistically significant differences between the two groups of research subjects in terms of gender,education,marital status,hypertension status,diabetes status,smoking,alcohol consumption,and sleep length(P<0.05).The results of the CLPM model showed that depression and cognition have a bidirectional temporal relationship.The baseline depression score of the middle-aged group could effectively predict the cognitive score at the first follow-up(β=-0.084,P<0.001),and the depression score at the first follow-up could effectively predict the cognitive score at the second follow-up(β=-0.070,P<0.001).The baseline cognitive score could effectively predict the depression score at the first follow-up(β=-0.076,P<0.001),and the cognitive score at the first follow-up could effectively predict the depression score at the second follow-up(β=-0.073,P<0.001).The baseline cognitive score of the elderly group could effectively predict the depression score at the first follow-up(β=-0.197,P<0.001),and the cognitive score at the first follow-up could effectively predict the depression score at the second follow-up(β=-0.111,P<0.001).The depression score at the first follow-up could effectively predict the cognitive score at the second follow-up(β=-0.089,P<0.001).Conclusions:The relationship between depression and cognition in middle-aged and elderly individuals follows a biphasic temporal.Especially in the older age group,Cognitive impairment in later years can increase the likelihood of experiencing depression in the future.Prioritizing the treatment of depression in middle-aged and elderly individuals can help lower the risk of developing cognitive problems later on.
Keywords：depressioncognitioncross-lagged panel modelmiddle-aged and elderly people
Publication Date：2025-10-25
Online Publishing Date：2025-11-03(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 3807-3811 )