Cognitive Functioning and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in China: The Role of Alcohol Use and Gender.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the role alcohol use and gender played in the association between cognitive function and depressive symptoms among older adults.

Methods: Using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study baseline survey, cognitive function was measured by figure drawing, telephone interview of cognitive status-10, and word recall tests. Depression was measured by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale short form. Multiple regression models were conducted separately to examine their associations for males and females among alcohol use groups while controlling for covariates.

Results: Significant negative associations were found between domains of cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms across different alcohol user groups (Bs range: -6.21 to -0.14, p s all <.05). Moreover, the effects were stronger in females compared with males.

Conclusions: Different cognitive components should be prioritized based on older adults' alcohol use when helping them reduce depressive symptoms. Older women warrant additional attention due to their cognitive decline being more pronounced deterioration in depressive symptoms compared with older men.