Depression Linked To Alzheimer’s Disease According to New Study

According to a new study, those with depression are more likely to suffer from dementia in their elderly years. The study was completed over a 17 year period and involved nearly 1,000 people. Scientists have believed there was a link between the two illnesses but without any concrete information, they could not confirm their suspicions.

The study was led by Jane Saczynski of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Saczynski pulled information from another study that began in 1948. The Farmingham Heart Study allowed Saczynski and her team to factor in things like heart disease, stroke, smoking, alcohol use and heart attack. The average age of the people the researchers evaluated was 79. 125 of the study participants were said to have depression based on a screening process that was given at the study’s onset.

17 years later, 164 of the study participants had developed dementia. Of those 164, 136 were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.  The study found that 22 percent of the people who had depression developed dementia compared to 17 percent of those without signs of depression. Researchers estimate depression doubled the risk of a person developing some form of dementia.

However, other experts are quick to point out that not everyone who has depression will develop dementia. Medical experts suggest family members watch their loved ones for signs of depression. They can help their loved one by ensuring they are getting plenty of rest, eating healthy, and given plenty of time for social interactions.

The study has been published in the journal Neurology.