Health

Dementia-depression connection: Early sadness can lead to later cognitive issues, study finds

Published

10 months ago

July 28, 2023

Dementia-depression connection: Early sadness can lead to later cognitive issues, study finds

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People who suffer from depression are more than twice as likely to develop dementia later in life, a new study from Penn Medicine found. It was published in JAMA Neurology.

The link was found for both young and middle-aged adults, but the risk was higher for men.

The study was a collaboration between researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Aarhus University in Denmark. It followed 1.4 million Danish citizens over nearly four decades, according to a press release announcing the findings.

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Overall, those who were diagnosed previously with depression were 2.41 times more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis eventually, the release stated.

“While depression diagnosed later in life is generally thought to be an early symptom of dementia, our results suggest that a depression diagnosis at any point in adulthood increases the risk of dementia later on,” first author Holly Elser, M.D., PhD, a neurology resident at Penn, said in the release.

People who suffer from depression are more than twice as likely to develop dementia later in life, a new study from Penn Medicine found. (iStock)

“Previous studies with smaller sample sizes and shorter follow-up times have consistently illustrated the link between dementia and depression diagnosed later in life, but with our long-term analysis, we were able to precisely estimate the association between dementia and depression over an individual’s life span,” she explained.

The correlation existed regardless of the age at which the depression was diagnosed.

Those hospitalized for depression multiple times had a stronger risk of dementia later in life.

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There didn’t seem to be any increased risk among those who were prescribed antidepressants within six months of being diagnosed with depression, the study found.

Potential reasons for the link

Dr. Rehan Aziz, geriatric psychiatrist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in New Jersey, was not part of the study but shared his thoughts on the findings.

“Depression and dementia may share similar genetics and cause similar brain changes,” a psychiatrist told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“The study links depression and dementia — but it does not explain why the risk exists,” he told Fox News Digital.

The doctor said he has several theories, however.

“One is that depression and dementia may share similar genetics and cause similar brain changes,” he said.

BE WELL: STOP ‘SUMMER SADNESS’ WITH THESE EXPERT TIPS

“For example, we know that depression can cause shrinkage of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is important for recent memories.”

“We know that depression can cause shrinkage of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is important for recent memories.”

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“While the shrinkage is reversible with [the] treatment of depression, it is probable that it has later-life effects,” he hypothesized.

Depression can also create a state of inflammation in the brain and impact other brain chemicals, Aziz noted, which could also trigger later-life memory problems.

Treatment and risk reduction

Although the study findings stated that the prescription of antidepressants didn’t seem to impact the risk of dementia, Aziz said more research is needed to make a definitive call.

It is estimated that some 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, per the Alzheimer’s Association. (iStock)

“For example, the study did not comment on which antidepressants were used, the dosages ordered, duration of treatment or the effectiveness of the treatment,” he said.

“It’s also not clear if other depression treatments were used.”

Mental health conditions should “treat depression aggressively,” Aziz said, with a combination of medications, psychotherapy and lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise.

“Sadness and depression are not the same thing.”

“Clinicians should also discuss the possible linkage between depression and dementia and emphasize to patients the importance of adhering to depression treatment,” he added.

The doctor also pointed out that “sadness and depression are not the same thing.”

“Everybody experiences sadness from time to time, and that should not increase the risk of dementia,” he said.

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“Clinical depression stops one’s life. It can impair functioning and prevent people from working, maintaining relationships, experiencing joy and taking care of themselves.”

In extreme situations, people with depression may even have thoughts about not wanting to live anymore, he warned.

“It is important that anybody experiencing depression seek prompt medical evaluation so they can start treatment,” Aziz said.

People previously diagnosed with depression were 2.41 times more likely to receive a dementia diagnosis later in life. (iStock)

Some 17.3 million people age 18 and older in the U.S. — about 7.1% of the adult population — suffer from major depressive disorder, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

It is estimated that around 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, per the Alzheimer’s Association.

More research is needed, researchers say

The researchers acknowledged the limitations of the paper and the need for further research of the link between the two mental disorders.

“It is still unclear what about depression increases the risk of a dementia diagnosis,” said Elser in the press release.

“And I hope to see further research that evaluates whether the link between depression and dementia may be biological, a result of behaviors associated with depression, like social isolation and other changes in key health behaviors or some combination of these mechanisms,” he said.

Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.

Health

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May 30, 2024

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Health

First person with MS to play in the NBA shares his inspiring message: 'Make the most of it'

Published

40 mins ago

May 30, 2024

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First person with MS to play in the NBA shares his inspiring message: 'Make the most of it'

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Multiple sclerosis is a life-changing diagnosis for one million people who are affected in the U.S. — but for a professional athlete, its physical limitations can seem particularly challenging.

Chris Wright, 34, the first person with MS to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), has been living with the disorder since his 2012 diagnosis.

For World MS Day on May 30, Wright and his neurologist, Dr. Heidi Crayton, joined Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview from Washington, D.C., to discuss how he’s come to terms with his MS and to share words of wisdom for others facing the diagnosis. (See the video at the top of this article.)

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Wright first experienced symptoms in 2012, he said, when he noticed tingling in his right foot while warming up for an overseas basketball game in Turkey.

“As I was shooting, I felt a tingling sensation in my right hand that eventually spread throughout my entire body within a matter of a minute,” he told Fox News Digital.

Chris Wright, 34, the first person with MS to play in the NBA, has been living with the disorder since his 2012 diagnosis. (Getty Images/Chris Wright)

His coaches sent him to a doctor, who told him to take the day off.

“The next morning I woke up, and I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t stand up. I couldn’t really use my limbs,” he recalled.

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Wright returned to the doctor, this time in a wheelchair.

“They sent me to a specialist, where I was quickly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.”

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that can affect movement, vision, speech and other functions.

After going through several other doctors, Wright found Dr. Crayton, a board-certified neurologist who practices at the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Greater Washington.

Chris Wright of Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona in action during the LBA Lega Basket Series A Playoffs Semi-Final Game 3 match between Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona and Virtus Segafredo Bologna PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris on May 31, 2022, in Casale Monferrato, Italy. (Getty Images)

“What led me to her was her confidence and her ability to simplify what it meant to have MS and to make it manageable for me. [She] helped me understand that I could still go on with my career and my life in a way that I wanted to,” he said.

Crayton noted that the patient-doctor relationship is a “marathon, not a sprint.”

She told Fox News Digital, “It’s really important to find a doctor they can trust, who they can communicate with, who they can partner with to make decisions.”

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“You need a team of people who support you, love you and accept you.”

Less than a year after his diagnosis, Wright became the first person with MS to play in the NBA when he signed with the Dallas Mavericks.

“MS impacted my career tremendously, because there was nobody before me,” Wright told Fox News Digital.

“You need a team of people who support you, love you and accept you.”

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“I had NBA offers that were retracted because of the possibility of me having medical conditions and just being in uncharted territory — but I kept working and overcame it.”

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Wright, a husband and father of three, is no longer playing basketball these days, but he is feeling healthy and enjoying life, he said.

“Living with MS, it looks good, it feels good — I feel great,” he said.

“I try to stay active. I try to stay healthy. I try to stay moving. And I’ve been able to keep myself healthy and continue to be a father and live my life the way I want to live.”

‘Badge of honor’

For all those facing a new diagnosis, Wright encouraged seeking out resources from people who have “walked these halls” before.

“There are people who understand what you’re going through, and it’s important to hear other stories and get a foundational knowledge of what your life will look like moving forward.”

After going through several other doctors, Wright found Dr. Crayton, pictured here, a board-certified neurologist who practices at the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Greater Washington. (Dr. Heidi Crayton)

Wright is involved with Express4MS, a campaign that encourages people with MS to express themselves, share their stories and discuss treatment options with their doctors.

“It’s just something you can put in your toolbox to find information, inspiration and motivation to live every day in a positive way,” Wright said.

“Walk with pride, and know that you’re going to be OK.”

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“I would say to people: Stay with it, go through those tough times, figure out what works for you,” he said.

“Figure out how you can be successful at whatever it is you do.”

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Wright urges MS patients to look at the disease not as a hindrance, but as a “badge of honor.”

He said, “Walk with pride, and know that you’re going to be OK.”

Clayton advises her MS patients to “treat your body like a temple.”

Chris Wright of Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona in action during the LBA Lega Basket Serie A Playoffs Semi-Final Game 3 match between Bertram Derthona Basket Tortona and Virtus Segafredo Bologna PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris on May 31, 2022, in Casale Monferrato, Italy. (Getty Images)

“It will pay you back in spades if you can invest in your health — eat well, exercise, sleep,” she said.

While people with MS will always have bad days, Wright is focused on maintaining a positive outlook.

“As long as you’re above ground, you have an opportunity to make the most of it,” he said.

“Every action has an equal and opposite reaction — so whatever you put out there is the energy that’s going to come back.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Health

Early stroke symptoms, plus allergy prevention and foods that promote sleep

Published

8 hours ago

May 30, 2024

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Early stroke symptoms, plus allergy prevention and foods that promote sleep

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Left to right, Karie Ryan, Michele Acito, Katelynn Blackburn and Lisbeth Votruba shared insights into the nursing profession with Fox News Digital. Two other nurses shared thoughts as well. (iStock/Karie Ryan/Michele Acito/Katelynn Blackburn/Lisbeth Votruba)