BACKGROUND

Cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms are common and closely related mental health issues in older people, significantly affecting their quality of life and social functioning. Nutritional factors play a key role in preventing and managing these conditions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional status and depressive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in older people.

METHODS

Data from 126 participants aged 65 and older with chronic neurological disorders, recruited from nursing homes in Izmir, Turkey (January 2023-February 2023), were used in this cross-sectional study. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-30 and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were used to assess depression and malnutrition, respectively. Cognitive functions were evaluated using the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE). Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the risk of depression among malnourished people and to measure the risk of malnutrition among depressed people. Data collection was conducted prospectively through random, face-to-face interviews in nursing homes.

RESULTS

The average age of the participants in the study group was 77.05 ± 5.68 years, with a median age of 76.0 years. A statistically significant difference was observed between the median GDS score and the median age across MNA score categories (p < 0.05). The risk of malnutrition was roughly 10 times higher in patients with dementia (OR = 10.22, 95% CI: 4.33-24.11).

CONCLUSIONS

The results show a strong association between depression and malnutrition in older people. Malnutrition is a common occurrence among older people, and age is a significant risk factor. Similarly, depression is more common among older people living in nursing homes, and increasing age also raises depression levels. Therefore, future research should focus on conducting randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to confirm the effectiveness of nutritional interventions and oral nutritional supplements in treating depression and improving cognitive function.