Table 2 Age-specific direct and indirect relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning through BMI

CES-D × Age ≥ 70

-0.080^**

0.026

-3.149

0.002

Age ≥ 70

-0.110

0.115

-0.956

0.339

CES-D

0.004

0.019

0.192

0.848

-0.323^**

0.023

-14.352

0.000

BMI

0.139^**

0.022

6.204

0.000

Covariates

 Sex^a1

-0.319^**

0.077

-4.134

0.000

0.614^**

0.129

4.758

0.000

 Family Income^b

0.125^**

0.046

2.720

0.007

0.958^**

0.072

13.253

0.000

 ADL

-0.139^**

0.045

-3.099

0.002

-2.084^**

0.075

-27.884

0.000

 Married^a2

0.094

0.092

1.015

0.310

1.431^**

0.153

9.328

0.000

 Meet friends^a3

-0.082

0.095

-0.866

0.387

1.777^**

0.160

11.134

0.000

 Good health^a4

-0.198^**

0.086

-2.291

0.022

1.317^**

0.142

9.254

0.000

 Regular Exercise^a5

0.151^*

0.077

1.948

0.052

1.144^**

0.130

8.804

0.000

R² = 0.020, F (10, 5608) = 11.547, p < .000

R² = 0.340, F (9, 5609) = 320.456, p < 0.000

Indirect relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Function through BMI

 Age

Estimate

SE

95% LLCI

95% ULCI

 Age < 70

0.001

0.003

-0.005

0.006

 Age ≥ 70

-0.011^**

0.003

-0.018

-0.005

The Difference in Indirect relationship across Two Age Groups

Estimated difference

SE

95% LLCI

95% ULCI

  (Age ≥ 70)—(Age < 70)

-0.0111^**

0.0042

-0.0203

-0.0037