Mental health professionals have long wondered about the
relationship between memory problems, depression, and Alzheimer’s Disease. An
article published in Medical News Today June 16, 2009, “Depression May Increase
Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease In People With Memory Problems,” examines this issue.
The article reports on a study published in the June 16, 2009, print issue of Neurology®. The researchers studied “…756
people with MCI who were between the ages of 55 and 91 for three years. Of
those, 208 were diagnosed with depression using a test that measures the
severity and intensity of a person's depressive symptoms…. Participants were
given either vitamin E, donepezil or a placebo pill.” The results of the study
were interesting. “The study found that at 1.7 years, among depressed people
with mild cognitive impairment, 11 percent of those taking donepezil developed
Alzheimer's disease compared to 25 percent of those who took vitamin E or placebo.
At 2.2 years, 14 percent of those taking donepezil developed Alzheimer's
compared to 29 percent of those who took vitamin E or placebo. Donepezil had
little effect in the group of people who were not depressed….For every one
point increase on the test, a participant's risk of developing Alzheimer's
disease went up by three percent.” There are several important implications of
this study. First, the results of this study strongly suggest that depression
is a major risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s Disease particularly
in individuals who have memory problems early in their live. Second, mental
health professionals who are treating individuals with memory problems need to
screen for and aggressively treat depression in these individuals. Third,
primary care providers and neurologists who treat Alzheimer’s patients need
screen for and treat depression in these individuals. Fourth, individuals who
are having memory problems need to contact their health care provided to be
screened for and treated for depression. The authors conclude, “…If we can
delay the progression of this disease [Alzheimer's disease] for even two years,
it could significantly improve the quality of life for many people dealing with
memory loss."
Reference: Original Article
Two Great YouTube Videos on Alzheimer's Disease
Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:
- Stress and the Human Brain
- Early Life Stress and the Immune System
- The Facts About Major Depressive Disorder
- The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression
Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Also see blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Aging
Additional Resources:
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Dr. Jeffrey Speller Dr. Tanya Korkosz