Is later-life depression a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease or a prodromal symptom: a study using post-mortem human brain tissue?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depression and dementia are both common diseases. Although new cases of depression are more common in younger adults, there is a second peak at the age of 50 years suggesting a different pathological process. Late-life depression (LLD) is associated with dementia. However, it remains unclear whether depression represents a dementia prodrome or is a true risk factor for its development. LLD is thought to have a vascular component and this may be a possible link between depression and dementia. We hypothesised that later-life depression is a prodromal manifestation of dementia and would therefore be associated with more AD, and/or ischaemic brain abnormalities that are present in earlier-life depression or in age- and sex-matched controls.

Methods

We assessed post-m

SUBMITTER: Sinclair LI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10496415 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature