Cognitive functioning in anxiety and depression: results from the ALSPAC cohort

Abstract

Anxiety and depression are associated with a range of impairments in cognitive functioning. Understanding the nature of these deficits may identify targets for intervention and prevent functional decline. We used observational and genetic methods to investigate the relationship of anxiety and depression with three cognitive domains: emotion recognition, response inhibition, and working memory, in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). We examined: (i) cross-sectional associations between anxiety, depression, and cognition at age 24 ( n = 2187), (ii) prospective associations between anxiety and depression at age 18 and cognition at age 24 ( n = 1855), and (iii) the casual effect of anxiety and depression on cognition using Mendelian randomization (MR). Both disorders were associated with altered emotion recognition; anxiety with decreased happiness recognition ( b = − 0.27 [−0.54,0.01], p = 0.045), and depression with increased sadness recognition ( b = 0.35 [0.07,0.64], p = 0.016). Anxiety was also associated with poorer working memory ( b = − 0.14 [−0.24,0.04], p = 0.005). There was no evidence for an association with response inhibition. MR provided no clear evidence of causal relationships between mental health and cognition, but these analyses were underpowered. Overall, there was little evidence for impairments in executive functioning, but moderate alterations in emotion recognition. This may inform the development of psychosocial interventions.