The Relationship of Self‐Reported Depression and Self‐Perceived Cognitive Function in People with Dementia Associated Disorders: A Complex Relationship That Requires More Than Perception and Self‐Report.

Background: Dementia associated diseases (DAD) refers to multiple clinical conditions all characterized by progressive impairment of cognition that interferes with an individual's ability to function independently due to such cognitive impairment (CI). Clinically, CI can vary in degree and combination across multiple important individual cognitive domains (CD). Depression is also reported to be an early sign of or as a potential risk factor of Alzheimer's or another DAD. Enhanced awareness of the presence of depression in people with DAD (PwDAD) and the relationship of self‐reported depression to self‐perception of cognitive function may provide insight into current screening methods incorporated in routine care and treatment options prescribed as well as the need to include further information as treatment options become more complex and time available to holistically evaluate patient needs evolves. Method: Retrospective cross‐sectional analysis of PwDAD who completed both the patient reported outcomes (PRO) Neuro QOL Cognition Function‐ Short Form (CF‐SF) and Neuro QOL Depression‐Short Form (SFD‐SF) in routine care. Linear regression analysis of relationship was explored with significance (p<0.05). Results: 213 PwDAD, 65% female, average age 70 +/‐ 15 years. A statistically significant negative relationship was identified between self‐reported depression identified by Neuro‐QOL PRO SFD‐SF and self‐perceived cognition abilities (CF‐SF) (r2 = 0.25). Conclusion: There is an inverse relationship between PRO self‐reported depression and self‐reported/self‐perceived cognitive ability in PwDAD. Incorporating PRO Cognitive Function‐Short Form as the sole measure of cognitive function or simply as a screening tool to determine when to objectively measure cognitive function in PwDAD without simultaneously screening for depression and not incorporating other objective value‐added cognitive measurement tools should not be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]