Mental health and aging: identifying risk and protective factors of anxiety and depression in older women

Abstract

Objective: To identify risk and protective factors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms in older adult women, con- sidering clinical, functional, and electrophysiological parameters.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved 91 women aged 65 or older. Assessments included EEG-derived valence and excitation levels, motor reaction time, body composition, and functional performance. Anxiety and depression were screened using the mind over mood anxiety inventory and the geriatric depression scale, respectively. Results: Anxiety symptoms were present in 28.6% of participants and depressive symptoms in 27.5%. Risk factors for anxi- ety included fear of falling (OR=2.023, 95% CI=1.554–2.944, p=0.007), presence of depressive symptoms (OR=2.254, 95% CI=1.983–3.085, p=0.008), and body fat percentage (OR=1.543, 95% CI=1.253–3.111, p=0.011). Protective factors included valence (OR=0.311, 95% CI=0.272–0.544, p=0.003), gait speed (OR=0.674, 95% CI=0.482–0.782, p=0.023), and maximal ex- piratory pressure (OR=0.755, 95% CI=0.693–0.823, p=0.027). For depressive symptoms, risk factors included fear of falling (OR=1.983, 95% CI=1.865–3.801, p=0.023) and anxiety symptoms (OR=1.765, 95% CI=1.563–1.983, p=0.008), while pro- tective factors were cortical excitation (OR=0.523, 95% CI=0.425–0.693, p=0.023) and expiratory pressure (OR=0.635, 95%CI=0.491–0.723, p=0.021). Conclusion: Functional and emotional parameters, particularly valence and gait performance, suggest a potential protective role against anxiety and depression in aging women. The findings reinforce the importance of integrated assessments to support early detection and guide intervention planning, while further studies are recommended to strengthen these observations.