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Cross-sectional study of the association between nutrition and depression in older people living in nursing homes
Cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms are prevalent among older adults, adversely affecting their quality of life and social interactions. This study explores the correlation between nutritional status, depressive symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction in individuals aged 65 and older. Data were collected from 126 participants with chronic neurological disorders in nursing homes in Izmir, Turkey, between January and February 2023. Assessment tools included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-30 for depression, the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) for malnutrition, and the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) for cognitive evaluation. Binary logistic regression analyses assessed the risk of depression in the context of malnutrition and vice versa. The cohort’s mean age was 77.05 ± 5.68 years, with a median age of 76.0 years. A significant correlation was found between the median GDS score and median age across MNA score categories (p < 0.05). Notably, the risk of malnutrition was approximately 10 times greater in dementia patients. The findings underscore a robust link between depression and malnutrition among older adults, with malnutrition being prevalent and age serving as a critical risk factor. Furthermore, depression is notably more frequent in nursing home residents, with increasing age correlating with higher depression levels. Future studies should aim to conduct randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy of nutritional interventions and oral nutritional supplements in alleviating depression and enhancing cognitive function. [NPID: Depressive symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, dementia, older, malnutrition, age].
Year: 2025
