Executive Functions, Episodic Autobiographical Memory, Problem-Solving Capacity, and Depression Proposal for a Structural Equations Model.

The executive functions play an important role in storing and recovering autobiographical memories, especially episodic memories. These types of memories provide information about solutions and experiences from the past that can be utilized as examples in the present when seeking solutions to any problem. In addition, a close relationship between depression and the executive functions has been widely recognized. This study aims to elaborate a structural equations model that empirically supports the relationships among the executive functions, episodic autobiographical memory, and the adaptive capacity to solve problems, taking into account the depressed mood state. In all, 32 healthy elderly people, 32 patients with Parkinson disease, 32 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and 32 with Alzheimer disease were evaluated. Structural equation models were estimated to test the effects among the constructs. The final model shows adequate fit indexes, thus revealing that an individual's problem-solving capacity will depend on the capacity to access the episodic autobiographical memory, which in turn will depend on the maintenance of executive functioning. In a parallel way, the mood state, and specifically depression, will play a modulator role because when there is depressive symptomatology, some capacities that depend on executive control can be diminished.