Association between cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: With the global rise in aging populations, cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms have emerged as prevalent public health concerns among older adults. However, evidence regarding the association between cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms in individuals aged 70 years and older remains limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the association between cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in China. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2020 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Participants aged 70 years and older were included in the analysis. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). Cognitive functioning was assessed using a composite cognitive score (range: 0-21) that integrated multiple cognitive domains, including memory, attention, and executive function. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: The final analytical sample comprised 2,569 individuals aged 70 years and older. Among these, 1,179 individuals presented with depressive symptoms, and 424 demonstrated cognitive dysfunction. In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, cognitive dysfunction was significantly associated with depressive symptoms compared with those without cognitive dysfunction (odds ratio [OR] = 2.167, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.670-2.799). CONCLUSION: The findings indicated a significant association between cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults aged 70 years and above in China. These findings further imply that interventions targeting cognitive dysfunction may contribute to improved mental health outcomes among older adults experiencing depressive symptoms.