Is dynapenia associated with the onset and persistence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults? Findings from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing. (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carvalho, Andre F.; Maes, Michael; Solmi, Marco; Brunoni, Andre R.; Lange, Shannon; Husain, M. Ishrat; Kurdyak, Paul; Rehm, Jürgen; Koyanagi, Ai
• Is Part Of: Aging & mental health. Volume 25:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 468
• Page End: 475
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: Elderly -- depression -- anxiety -- sarcopenia -- handgrip strength -- prospective -- psychiatry; Older people -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Aged -- psychology -- periodicals; Mental Health -- periodicals; Mental Health Services -- periodicals; Aging -- psychology -- periodicals; Aged, 80 and over -- psychology -- periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1699021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-7863

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of the current study was to assess the associations between dynapenia and the onset and persistence of depression and anxiety among older adults. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled community-living older adults ( N = 5271; 51.1% females) aged ≥ 50 years (mean age = 63.2, standard deviation = 9.0) from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), Ireland. At baseline, participants completed a handgrip assessment. Depression was defined by a score ≥ 16 in the Center of Epidemiology Studies Depression (CES-D) tool and anxiety was considered when participants scored ≥ 8 on the anxiety section of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Outcomes were incident and persistent depression and anxiety at two years follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression models were built for each outcome. Results: After controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, employment status, smoking, body mass index, number of chronic conditions, physical activity, and cognitive function, low handgrip strength indicative of dyapenia (< 30 Kg for men and < 20 Kg for women) was associated with a greater likelihood for incident depressive (OR = 1.44; 95%CI: 1.08–1.92) as well as for persistent depressive (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.01–2.58) and anxiety (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.20–2.14) symptoms. Conclusions: Dynapenia was associated with a higher odds of developing depressive symptoms as well as a greater likelihood to persistent depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults. Our data suggest that interventions targeting muscle strength may prevent the onset of late-life depression and also may hold promise as novel therapeutic opportunities for depression and anxiety in later life.