Depression could significantly increase the risk of developing certain types of dementia later in life, including Alzheimer’s disease.
A new study published in the journal Neurology strengthens the hypothesis of a link between depression and dementia. Scientists cannot, however, explain the phenomenon. They suggest that brain inflammation, along with the action of certain proteins present in the brain and a person’s lifestyle can play a role.
This research involved 1,000 people who were not suffering from dementia at the start of the study. One hundred twenty-five were classified as depressed. After 17 years of research, 164 people suffered from dementia, 136 of whom had Alzheimer’s. Of these patients, 22% were classified as being depressed at the beginning, compared to 16.6% among those who showed no symptoms of depression.
Further studies are now needed to confirm the results.