PHILADELPHIA: Depression may be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease and could be used in a test to screen those not genetically predisposed to the disease.
The study found participants over the age of 65 who identified with specific depressive markers were significantly more likely to have decreased cognitive function later on.
“You see that the memory impairment increases rapidly,” researcher Dr Hamid Sohrabi said.
“Aged 70 and over the relationship becomes quite strong; we believe for every single score in our depression endophenotype that the risk of developing cognitive decline doubles in participants aged 70 and over”…