ArticleBMC public health2024
How do apathetic and depressive symptoms relate to functional capacity? A cross-sectional survey among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in Japan.
Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Functional ability in cognitive complaints: The role of neuropsychiatric and cognitive factors in community-dwelling older adults.Alzheimer's & dementia. Behavior & socioeconomics of aging · 2025Article
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundApathetic and depressive symptoms are frequently observed among older adults, and are risk factors for functional decline and dementia progression. However, how these symptoms influence functional capacity remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between apathetic and depressive symptoms and functional capacity, considering the interaction between apathetic and depressive symptoms.
methodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey targeting community dwelling middle-aged or older adults was conducted. We sent a questionnaire to 984 individuals and received 320 responses. Data with missing values and participants aged under 50 were excluded, resulting in 212 participants (88 men and 124 women, mean age = 73.4 ± 9.3 years). Apathetic symptoms were evaluated using the Dimensional Apathy Scale (J-DAS), which comprises executive, emotional, and cognitive and behavioral initiation aspects of apathy. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Functional capacity was assessed using the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence, which comprises technology usage, information practice, life management, and social engagement.
resultsMean score of each J-DAS factor and GDS was 5.3 ± 3.4 (executive), 12.0 ± 3.0 (emotional), 11.8 ± 5.1 (initiation), and 4.5 ± 3.3, respectively. The emotional and initiation aspects of J-DAS were significantly associated with information practice (β = -0.15, p < .05 for emotional; β = -0.27, p < .001 for initiation) and life management (β = -0.20, p < .01 for emotional; β = -0.22, p < .01 for initiation) in functional capacity. GDS was associated only with social engagement (β = -0.31, p < .001). Although the interaction between the initiation factor of J-DAS and GDS was significantly associated with life management (β = -0.16, p < .05), the R
conclusionsApathetic and depressive symptoms are independently, rather than interactively, associated with different aspects of functional capacity. As older adults with apathetic or depressive symptoms might struggle to seek help from public health services, they should be targeted with active interventions from healthcare professionals.
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