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Factors associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in five cohorts of community-based older people: the HALCyon (Healthy Ageing across the Life Course) Programme

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2011

C. R. Gale ,
A. Aihie Sayer ,
C. Cooper ,
E. M. Dennison ,
J. M. Starr ,
L. J. Whalley ,
J. E. Gallacher ,
Y. Ben-Shlomo ,
D. Kuh  and
R. Hardy
...Show all authors
C. R. Gale*
Affiliation:
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
A. Aihie Sayer
Affiliation:
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
C. Cooper
Affiliation:
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
E. M. Dennison
Affiliation:
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
J. M. Starr
Affiliation:
Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Geriatric Medicine Unit, University of Edinburgh, Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
L. J. Whalley
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
J. E. Gallacher
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Statistics and Public Health, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
Y. Ben-Shlomo
Affiliation:
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
D. Kuh
Affiliation:
MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, UK
R. Hardy
Affiliation:
MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, UK
L. Craig
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
I. J. Deary
Affiliation:
Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: C. R. Gale, Ph.D., MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit (University of Southampton), Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. (Email: crg@mrc.soton.ac.uk)
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Abstract

Background

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in older people, but the relative importance of factors operating in early and later life in influencing risk is unclear, particularly in the case of anxiety.

Method

We used data from five cohorts in the Healthy Ageing across the Life Course (HALCyon) collaborative research programme: the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1936, the Caerphilly Prospective Study, the Hertfordshire Ageing Study, the Hertfordshire Cohort Study and the Lothian Birth Cohort 1921. We used logistic regression to examine the relationship between factors from early and later life and risk of anxiety or depression, defined as scores of 8 or more on the subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and meta-analysis to obtain an overall estimate of the effect of each.

Results

Greater neuroticism, poorer cognitive or physical function, greater disability and taking more medications were associated in cross-sectional analyses with an increased overall likelihood of anxiety or depression. Associations between lower social class, either in childhood or currently, history of heart disease, stroke or diabetes and increased risk of anxiety or depression were attenuated and no longer statistically significant after adjustment for potential confounding or mediating variables. There was no association between birth weight and anxiety or depression in later life.

Conclusions

Anxiety and depression in later life are both strongly linked to personality, cognitive and physical function, disability and state of health, measured concurrently. Possible mechanisms that might underlie these associations are discussed.

Keywords

Anxietycohort studiesdepressionelderlylife course
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 10 , October 2011 , pp. 2057 - 2073
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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