Persistence of Neuropsychologic Deficits in the Remitted State of Late-Life Depression
Abstract
Objective Cognitive impairment in late-life depression (LLD) is prevalent, disabling, and persists despite the remission of depressive symptoms. This article characterizes neuropsychologic functioning during remission in LLD. Methods The authors examined longitudinal performance on a comprehensive neuropsychologic battery in 56 nondemented subjects age 60 or older who initially presented with an episode of nonpsychotic unipolar major depression and 40 nondemented, age- and education-equated comparison subjects with no history of depression. Subjects were assessed at baseline (in a depressed state) and one year later (when remitted). Results After one year, 45% of the LLD subjects were cognitively impaired despite remission of depression. Visuospatial ability, information-processing speed, and delayed memory were most frequently impaired; 94% of the patients who were impaired at baseline remained impaired one year later. Twenty-three percent of the patients who were cognitively normal while depressed developed impairment one year later. Conclusions Most older individuals who are cognitively impaired during a depressive episode remain impaired when their depression remits. In addition, a substantial proportion of older depressed individuals who are cognitively intact when depressed are likely to be impaired one year later, although their depression has remitted.
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Cognitive impairments in late-life depression often persist even when depressive symptoms and severity improve.
“Importantly, cognitive impairments often persist even when there is improvement in depressive symptoms and severity.”
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- Authors
- Bhalla, R. K., Butters, M. A., Mulsant, B. H., Begley, A. E., Zmuda, M. D., Schoderbek, B., Pollock, B. G., Reynolds, C. F., & Becker, J. T.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (US)
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Butters, Meryl A.
- Venue
- The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-05
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 419-427
- ISSN
- 1064-7481 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2032393864
- Cited by
- 292
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 9.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (P50AG005133)
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH072947, P30MH052247, R37MH043832, K01MH001684, K24MH065416, P30MH071944, K02MH001077, R01MH037869)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- geriatric depression, cognitive impairment, neuropsychological deficits, remission, visuospatial ability, processing speed, delayed memory, older adults, unipolar major depression, longitudinal cognitive change
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Aged, Analysis of Variance, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Neuropsychological Tests, Pennsylvania, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychomotor Performance, Remission Induction, Task Performance and Analysis, Geriatric Assessment, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Age of Onset, Disease Progression
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