Depression and cognitive decline as indicators of mental health in older adults

Abstract

The population in Latin America is aging at a faster rate. Therefore, it is crucial to assess and identify necessary interventions for the health of older adults. Early diagnosis is essential, and screening tools can be implemented, particularly in primary healthcare centers. It is crucial to conduct screening evaluations for cognitive impairment and depression in social programs for this age group. This study will employ screening tools to evaluate the prevalence of these issues in a social program in Quito, Ecuador. The study design is quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional in a group of 511 older adults from a social program in Quito, Ecuador, using the Mini-Mental State Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale. We detected 18.2 % of cognitive impairment, 2.1 % of dementia, and 37.8 % of depression in old adults. Noteworthy, 47.8 % of the participants exhibited one or more clinical signs of dementia or depression, which were more frequent in women (49.1 %), illiterates and very low-educated individuals (63.3 %), single (10.1 %), and widowed individuals aged over 78 years (27 %). Older adults with higher clinical indicators of cognitive impairment and depression face various risk factors such as low education, spousal loss, age over 75, and being female. In South Quito, four out of ten elderly have clinical depression or cognitive impairment. Implementing internationally recognized screening protocols is crucial for timely treatment, particularly in developing countries like Quito, Ecuador.