DALLAS: Serious and escalating depression in the elderly may almost double the likelihood of dementia, according to a study led by UC San Francisco, and could be an independent risk factor for cognitive decline, rather than just an early symptom of it.
While research from other institutions has linked depression with dementia, this study is the first to identify a depression trajectory tied with its increased incidence.
“Our results raise the possibility that older adults’ cognitive health could be improved with interventions to reduce depressive symptoms, such as psychotherapy or other behavioral interventions, or medications,” said lead author Allison Kaup, PhD, assistant adjunct professor at the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and a clinical research psychologist and clinical neuropsychologist at San Francisco VA Medical Center. “This is an important topic for future treatment studies to investigate.”