A cross-sectional study: Cognitive dysfunction and depression among older residents in central Taiwan communities

Abstract Background: Cognitive dysfunction and depressive tendencies often add to the caregiving burden and frustration experienced by family members. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the factors influencing cognitive function and depression among community-dwelling older adults. Identifying and preemptively addressing potential risk factors can facilitate the early detection of dementia and depressive tendencies, enabling early interventions that help mitigate functional decline and related complications while enhancing quality of life for older adults. Methods: Two hundred residents aged 65 years and older, with no prior diagnosis of dementia or depression, were recruited as research participants. Data were collected using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and questionnaires covering relevant demographic variables. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The participants had a mean age of 73.69 ± 5.65 years. The mean MMSE score was 26.10 ± 3.68. Most participants were female (152 participants, 76%). Cognitive dysfunction was observed in 41 residents (20.5%), and abnormal GDS-15 results in 17 (8.5%). Univariate analysis suggested that cognitive dysfunction was significantly associated with age ( F = 7.64, P = 0.001) and educational attainment ( F = 24.17, P < 0.001), while depressive tendencies were significantly associated only with community participation ( F = 9.386, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study found that approximately 20% of community-dwelling older adults exhibited cognitive dysfunction, which was significantly associated with age and educational attainment. Additionally, about 8.5% of community-dwelling older adults demonstrated depressive tendencies, which were mainly associated with community participation. Consequently, policy measures that promote health awareness and encourage active community engagement among older adults are needed to enhance their quality of life.