Depression in older adults could be an early warning sign of dementia rather than just a risk factor, groundbreaking new research from Queen Mary, University of London has revealed.
The study found that people experiencing depression were more likely to develop dementia, with the link becoming particularly strong in the decade leading up to diagnosis.
Researchers discovered that the chance of experiencing depression increased steadily in the ten years before dementia was diagnosed, suggesting it could be an important early indicator of the condition.
The extensive research analysed health records of nearly 500,000 participants from the UK Biobank, comparing those with and without diagnoses of both depression and dementia.
Research has suggested depression could indicate depression
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The team conducted detailed brain scans of more than 41,000 participants to examine whether depression affected the brain differently in older adults compared to younger people.
The study revealed that in people aged 65 and older, depression was linked to changes in brain regions associated with Alzheimer's disease, particularly the hippocampus.
Younger people with depression did not show the same patterns of brain change, suggesting age plays a crucial role in how depression affects brain health.
The research showed that depression roughly doubled the risk of developing dementia, even after accounting for factors like poverty, gender, education, smoking and social isolation.
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The research from Queen Mary University of London has suggested depression roughly doubled the risk of developing dementia
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More severe depression was associated with a greater risk of dementia, according to the findings. The study revealed that if depression were directly causing dementia, those with longer-term depression would be at higher risk. However, researchers found the opposite to be true.
The strongest connection between depression and dementia emerged just before the time of diagnosis, suggesting depression could be an early manifestation of the disease.
Professor Charles Marshall, who led the study, said: "Depression is often viewed as a modifiable risk factor for dementia, but this may need to be reevaluated in light of this study. We hope that the findings will lead to a more nuanced approach when considering whether treating depression could be a way of preventing dementia.
"Our results suggest that while treating depression earlier in life might have a small benefit, there may be more to be gained from using depression in later life as a way of identifying people who are in the early stages of dementia."
The findings come as other recent research has highlighted various risk factors for dementia, including water quality in certain UK regions.
A separate study conducted by Imperial College London found that residents in 'soft water' areas with low calcium and magnesium levels could face a 34 per cent higher risk of vascular dementia.
Meanwhile, Dementia Jersey has emphasised that 45 per cent of dementia cases could potentially be avoided through lifestyle changes.
The charity recommends focusing on heart health, staying mentally sharp, and maintaining social connections as key strategies for reducing dementia risk.
