Depression and Alzheimer’s Linked
‘A history of depression, especially if it occurs early in life, boosts your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.
But depression does not seem to increase during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, according to another new study, refuting the idea that the Alzheimer’s causes the depression, as some claim.
Together, the two studies contribute some answers to the ongoing debate about depression and Alzheimer’s disease — and whether depression triggers the Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s disease triggers the depression, or yet another risk factor leads to both. Up to 50% of Alzheimer’s patients also report depression.
The new research strengthens advice to take depression seriously and get treatment, says Gary Kennedy, MD, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center, New York, N.Y. “You want to get over it as quickly and completely as possible,” says Kennedy, who reviewed the studies for WebMD.’
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