Depression Symptoms Moderate Associations between Daily Functioning and Neuropsychological Performance in Mexican American Adults.

OBJECTIVE

The influence of depression on the relationship between cognition and daily living in aging Mexican American adults requires further investigation, given projected trends in general growth as well as prevalence of depression and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in this population.

METHOD

In the present study, we examined the extent to which depression (assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale - 15 item version) moderated the association between reported daily functioning (assessed using the Functional Activities Questionnaire [FAQ]) and objective neuropsychological performance in aging Mexican American adults in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center cohort.

RESULTS

Worse reported daily functioning (higher FAQ scores) was associated with worse memory and language performance among participants without elevated depression symptoms (ps < .05), but no associations were observed among those with elevated symptoms (ps > .05). Moreover, depression did not moderate associations of reported daily functioning with performance in attention and working memory or executive functioning and processing speed (ps > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Aging Mexican American adults with elevated depression symptoms may have subjective informant reports of daily functioning that are discrepant from their objective performance on formal tests of memory and language. Within the context of neuropsychological evaluations for ADRD, failure to adequately assess mood to inform the nature of cognitive and/or functional changes could result in misdiagnosis and lead to delayed, premature, and/or improper intervention with this population.