Depression is a serious mental health problem that can rob us of joy and years of healthy living. We know that depressive symptoms can reduce the number of years of disability-free life (or “healthy life”) left in older adults, but it was unclear exactly which symptoms were responsible. Researchers from Tohoku University, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, and the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition found that different patterns of depressive symptoms are associated with disability-free survival in community-dwelling older adults, and that these associations differ for men and women.
This study revealed which symptoms of depression are most closely associated with a shorter healthy lifespan. Knowing which symptoms are the biggest red flags can help public health departments develop strategic and tailored plans. The study was published online. Psychiatric Research Journal April 25, 2026.
The study included 585 older adults who participated in the Tsurugaya Project, a comprehensive geriatric cohort study conducted in the Tsurugaya area of Sendai City, Japan. Participants were followed for about 18 years, and researchers looked for the occurrence of disabilities requiring long-term care or death. Depression symptoms and severity were measured using a combination of standardized tests, including the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15).
Conducting such long-term follow-up over approximately 20 years is a major undertaking. But by doing so, you’ll be able to zoom out and see changes that may take some time to occur, allowing you to see the bigger picture. ”
Ryoichi Nagatomi, Tohoku University
The results showed that men with a strong sense of worthlessness had a significantly higher risk of disability or death, while anxiety was an even greater risk factor for women.
“Previous measurements have focused on total depression scores, but our results suggest that detailed and qualitative observations of specific symptoms may be useful in the future to understand patients’ risk factors and even tailor preventive support programs to patients’ needs,” Nagatomi explains.
These findings suggest that mental health assessments of older adults should consider not only the severity of depression, but also specific types of depressive symptoms and gender differences. In rapidly aging societies like Japan, efforts to support healthy longevity, such as identifying feelings of worthlessness in older men and feelings of anxiety in older women, are particularly important to provide support and extend independent living.
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Reference magazines:
Fukuhara, H., others. (2026). Disability-free survival rate according to depressive symptoms in the elderly: Historical cohort study of the Tsurugaya Project. Journal of Psychiatric Research. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395626002426?via%3Dihub
