ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

The mental health of a population is the result of complex interactions between different parameters at individual and population levels.  Few studies have investigated the potential association between symptoms of anxiety, mild depressive symptoms and cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults.  The objective of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults by conducting a systematic literature review.  Six papers were included in the present study.  According to this systematic literature review, symptoms of anxiety and depression in community-dwelling older adults do not represent a consistent risk factor for dementia.  Although depression and anxiety affect specific aspects of cognitive domains, such symptoms may not result in impaired cognition in general.  Further studies with appropriate designs are clearly required to fill this gap in current knowledge, focusing on socio-environmental variables and on aspects related to individual resilience in order to clarify the role of depression and anxiety in cognitive performance.