Those with depression are at higher risk for future dementia

August 16, 2023

Likelihood of dementia in years following depression

Source:Elser, et al JAMA Neurology July 25, 2023  LINK

Researchers in Denmark, which maintains a robust population registry of psychiatric and other medical data, demonstrated that those who are diagnosed with depression are over twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia in the subsequent years and decades. This is true of those diagnosed with depression earlier or later in life. The sample size here, 1.3 million, is large with a high degree of longitudinal follow up. The group with depression also had considerably more heart disease, which is highly associated with vascular (blood vessel related) dementia. Those who were poor were overrepresented among those with depression, and other research has shown that living in areas of social deprivation is associated with a higher risk for dementia.

Depression is common!  Almost one in six Danes in this registry (17%) were diagnosed with depression at some point during the study period.

This research identifies association only. It does not prove that depression causes later dementia, nor does it prove that better treatment for depression will avert dementia.  Data from Denmark is also not necessarily applicable to other countries.

Implications for employers:

-        Rates of major symptoms of depression have increased dramatically since the pandemic, and employer efforts to increase access to care remain important to address employee and family needs.

-        Higher rates of heart disease in the group with depression shown to be at higher risk of dementia is a reminder of the importance of controlling blood pressure. Controlling high blood pressure can substantially reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, and vascular dementia.  Many with hypertension don’t know they have it, and only a small portion are treated adequately.

Next post will be on Friday: Medical care causes financial insecurity for many older employees

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