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Science Early history of depression linked to Alzheimer’s later in life
Science Early history of depression linked to Alzheimer’s later in life | Early history of depression linked to Alzheimer’s later in life |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Wednesday, 09 April 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 2 After six years of studying these subjects, the researchers found that 33 of them (6.6%) developed dementia. The researches diagnosed dementia in the subjects with criteria recognized by the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, a part of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. The researchers concluded that the risk of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease was four times more likely if a person had a history of depression before the age of 60 years. If depression occurred after the age of 60 years, then the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease was about 2.5 times as likely if one was not depressed at any point in their lives. However, the researchers then compared the size of the hippocampus and the amygdale in those reporting depression and those depression-free. They did not find any correlation between brain size and depression. They concluded that a shrinking brain is not a sign that would indicate the presence of Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, their conclusion, as stated within their abstract, was: “History of depression, and particularly an early onset, but not presence of depressive symptoms increased the risk for Alzheimer disease. This risk was not mediated by smaller hippocampal or amygdalar volumes.” Breteler stated, “Our findings definitely do not support the notion that depression leads to loss of hippocampus and amygdala cells which then leads to Alzheimer's.” [WebMD: “Depression and Alzheimer's Linked: Depression Boosts Risk of Dementia, but Does Not Increase During Early Alzheimer's, Studies Show."] The result of the Breteler study is found in the April 8, 2008 issue of the journal Neurology. Its title is “History of depression, depressive symptoms, and medial temporal lobe atrophy and the risk of Alzheimer disease.” Besides, Breteler, the other authors are: M. I. Geerlings, T. den Heijer, P. J. Koudstaal, and A. Hofman.
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