Neuroscience News Reports:
Quick Summary
Symptomatic depression increases the risk of developing dementia by 51%, but those being treated for depression had a significantly lower risk of being diagnosed with depression later in life.
Key Points
- Depression has long been associated with an increased risk of dementia.
- A new study provides evidence that timely treatment of depression could lower the risk of dementia.
- No effective treatment for dementia exists but identifying ways to help minimize or prevent dementia would help to lessen the burden of the disease.
The article states:
This indicates that timely treatment of depression is needed among those with late-life depression. Providing depression treatment for those with late-life depression might not only remit affective symptoms but also postpone the onset of dementia.