The Covid‐19 pandemic, depression, and cognitive decline: Insights from the Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence, and COGnition (SANSCOG) study

Abstract Background The COVID‐19 pandemic and the policies to contain it had a widespread impact on the life and livelihood of participants enrolled in the Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence, and COGnition (SANSCOG) study. We evaluated the prevalence of depression associated with the pandemic and its impact on cognition in our cohort. Method We used the geriatric depression scale (GDS) to objectively assess the depression scores of 400 participants before the first wave (March 2020; W1) and after the second (March 2021; W2) wave of the pandemic. We also assessed the cognitive profile of participants at these two timepoints using tests from the COGNITO battery. Based on the GDS score, the participants were classified into three groups‐ (a) Group A: participants with depression (GDS>4) at W1 and no depression W2 assessments (b) Group B: participants without depression at W1 and with depression at W2 assessments, and (c) Group C: participants with depression at W1 and W2. In each subgroup, the neuropsychological scores were compared using the Mann‐Whitney U test. Result The overall prevalence of depression was 26.5%. The prevalence of depression at W1 and W2 were 12.5% and 17.7%, respectively. The participants in group A (n = 55) had a significant increase in the reaction time between W1 and W2. In group B (n = 35), there was a significant increase in the reaction time and decrease in auditory attention, dual attention, Immediate and delayed recall scores of logical memory test, category fluency, letter fluency, and copying score in stick‐figure design test. In group C (n = 16), there was a significant increase in the reaction time and a decrease in auditory attention. Conclusion There was a 5.2% increase in the prevalence of depression between W1 and W2 in our cohort. The cognitive decline was more evident in participants who developed depression during the intercurrent interval between the W1 and W2.