Depression may cause cognitive decline in older adults

People who started with more depressive symptoms had faster rates of memory loss - Photo: Adobe

New research published in JAMA Network Open points to a troubling link between depressive symptoms and dementia, suggesting the two conditions may fuel each other over time.

The findings also suggest that identifying and treating depression early may be key to protecting our brain health and preserving our memories in later years.

The link between depression and cognitive decline

"Our study shows that the relationship between depression and poor memory runs in both directions, with depressive symptoms preceding memory impairment and memory impairment being associated with subsequent depressive symptoms," said Dr Dorina Cadar from the UCL Department of Behavioural and Health Sciences and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

To shed light on the complex relationship between mood and memory, researchers from University College London and Brighton and Sussex Medical School analyzed data from more than 8,000 participants over the age of 50 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Participants were followed for 16 years, undergoing regular assessments of memory, verbal fluency, and depressive symptoms.

Using sophisticated statistical modeling techniques, the researchers examined whether depressive symptoms and cognitive abilities influence each other over time.

The results painted a striking picture of the link between depressive symptoms and memory impairment. At any given time, people with more depressive symptoms tended to perform worse on tests of memory and verbal fluency. But the relationship didn’t end there.

Over the course of the study, people who started with more depressive symptoms had faster rates of dementia, compared with those with fewer symptoms.

Conversely, poorer initial memory function predicted greater increases in depressive symptoms over time, suggesting a vicious cycle in which depression accelerates memory decline, which in turn worsens mood symptoms.

Notably, the correlation was strongest for memory, while the link with verbal fluency was less clear. The researchers suspect this may be due to the different brain regions and cognitive processes involved in these two abilities, as well as the fact that verbal fluency tends to decline more slowly with age.

Depression and dementia reinforce each other

Rather than being a one-way street, the findings suggest that depressive symptoms and dementia may reinforce each other over time, leading to a more rapid decline in both mental health and cognitive function.

The implications of the study for clinical practice are profound. For people with depressive symptoms, regular memory assessments could help detect early signs of cognitive decline.

Conversely, older adults with memory problems should be screened for depression, as addressing mood symptoms may help slow cognitive decline.

The results also highlight the importance of taking an integrated approach to mental health and cognitive care in older adults. Rather than treating these issues in isolation, clinicians should consider the complex interrelationships between mood and memory and develop comprehensive interventions that target both domains.

Of course, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms that underlie this reciprocal relationship and to identify the most effective strategies for breaking the cycle. But one thing is clear: by recognizing the link between depression and dementia, we can take important steps to protect our brain health and promote mental health in our later years.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tram-cam-co-the-lam-suy-giam-nhan-thuc-o-nguoi-lon-tuoi-20240613145846098.htm