Paying attention to these troubling symptoms can prompt early intervention and treatment for .
Previously, researchers established a link between depression and dementia. Now, a team from University College London (UCL) has identified six specific symptoms that may serve as alarming indicators of serious cognitive impairment.
“Our findings indicate that the risk of developing is more closely associated with multiple symptoms of depression than with depression as a whole. This symptom-based approach helps us understand much more clearly who may be more vulnerable decades before dementia develops,” said epidemiologist and psychologist Philip Frank, a co-author of the study.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
The researchers analyzed data from 5,811 civil servants who participated in a British longitudinal study. Initially, the authors collected information about the participants’ mental health from 1997 to 1999, when they were aged between 45 and 69, and none of them had dementia.
Over the next two decades, scientists tracked the health status of the volunteers. During this period, dementia developed in 10.1 percent of the participants, according to Science Alert. Among those who reported five or more symptoms of in middle age, the risk of developing dementia was found to be 27 percent higher.
Moreover, this increased risk was linked to six specific symptoms of depression out of a total of 30 evaluated. These six symptoms included:
- loss of self-confidence
- inability to cope with problems
- lack of attachment to others
- persistent nervousness
- difficulty concentrating
- dissatisfaction with task performance.
Loss of self-confidence and inability to cope with problems emerged as particularly significant factors, with each increasing the risk of developing dementia by approximately 50 percent.
Meanwhile, symptoms of depression such as sleep problems and suicidal thoughts did not correlate with future dementia diagnoses.
Although the study does not demonstrate a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it suggests that certain signs of depression are associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia. This, in turn, could help identify the reasons why dementia affects some brains and not others.
According to the researchers, both depression and dementia are complex and multifaceted conditions that vary among individuals. As the study has shown, establishing connections between them is challenging but entirely feasible.
The scientists emphasize that this topic requires further research across diverse populations, especially considering the expected increase in dementia cases due to . If even a portion of these cases can be prevented, the situation could improve significantly.
“Depression does not have a single form. Its symptoms vary widely and often overlap with anxiety symptoms. We have identified subtle patterns that can help detect those at higher risk for neurological disorders. This brings us closer to more personalized and effective methods for treating mental health conditions,” noted epidemiologist Mika Kivimäki, a co-author of the study.
The results of the study were published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Photo: Unsplash
