Study depression promote dementia?

Study: Depression promote dementia?

(06.07.2010) Depression can increase the risk of developing dementia in old age. At least that's what US scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School say in Worcester and reported on their findings in the science journal "Neurology." Because certain proteins in the brain that increase in depression could increase the risk of developing dementia later.

Those who suffer from depression, probably increases the risk of developing dementia at an advanced age. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have found that inflammation in the brain that can be caused by depression contributes to dementia. "Certain proteins in the brain that increase in depression may also increase the risk of developing dementia," the study said. In addition, symptomatic lifestyles such as diet, lack of physical activity, and "the amount of exercise and the time someone spends with others" may promote dementia, even with long-lasting depression. In other words, the lack of social contacts that often occur in depressed patients can probably increase the risk of dementia.

But it is not quite so clear whether depression actually causes dementia. "While it's unclear whether depression triggers dementia, there are some ways in which depression could affect the risk of dementia," says study author Jane Saczynski. In a long-term study, the researchers evaluated the data of 949 persons, who were on average 79 years old. The subjects participated in the study for a total of 17 years. At the beginning of the study, none of the participants suffered from dementia. The participants were examined and interviewed about depression, sleep quality and the intensity of social contacts. About 13 percent of the study participants suffered from depressive episodes or manifested depression. During the study, 164 subjects developed dementia. Of the 164, 136 suffered from Alzheimer's disease. A connection to the depression was quite evident. Among the depressed patients, 22 percent developed dementia. Among the non-depressives, however, only 17 percent suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

Swedish scientists have also found that environmental factors may be responsible for the development of dementia. It could be observed that fish contaminated with toxic substances leads to an accumulation of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. (Sb)

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