Prescription medication use and polypharmacy (use of multiple medications to treat one ailment) have nearly doubled over the past two decades. Literature indicates that individuals who are depressed spend more time participating in sedentary behavior and individuals with polypharmacy are at higher risk of becoming depressed. Studies examining the relationship between the three variables (prescription medication use, physical activity level, and depressive symptoms) are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationships between Geriatric Depression Scores and sedentary-to-moderate ratio (measure of physical activity) and prescription medication use and sedentary-to-moderate ratio. We hypothesized that the Geriatric Depression Scores would positively correlate to increased ratio scores. Also, we hypothesized that prescription medication use would be positively correlated with increased ratio scores. METHODS: Participants from the Knolls of Oxford provided data about their prescription medication use, completed the Geriatric Depression Scale test, and wore an accelerometer to provide physical activity data. RESULTS: Sedentary to moderate ratio and age significantly impact GDS scores (r = 0.546, p = 0.008). Sedentary to moderate ratio, BMI, and age significantly impact prescription medication use (r = 0.660, p = 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary-to-moderate ratio has the most impact of all variables on both GDS and prescription medication use.
Authors: Valerie Wiseman, Adam Mandrell
Faculty Advisor: Kyle Timmerman, Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health
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