Age of major depression onset, depressive symptoms, and risk for subsequent dementia: results of the German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe)

Abstract

Depression might be a prodrome of AD but not of dementia of other aetiology as very late-onset depression in combination with current depressive symptoms, possibly emerging as a consequence of subjectively perceived worrisome cognitive deterioration, was most predictive. As depression parameters and subjective memory impairment predicted AD independently of objective cognition, clinicians should take this into account.

Depression and Mild Cognitive Impairment in the General Population: Results of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study

“…This would support the hypothesis that current depressive symptoms reflect the earliest symptoms of neurodegeneration leading to AD in some individuals. This is in line with a recently published study of Heser et al[86] showing that very late-onset depression with current depressive symptoms was specifically predictive for later AD (adjusted hazard ratio of 5.48 of dementias with other etiologies.However, as this is a cross-sectional analysis, we cannot conclude whether depressive symptoms are a prodromal symptom or a risk factor for MCI. The association of depression and cognitive functioning might differ depending on the MCI subtype and on the timing of depression.…”

Mild cognitive impairment in a Spanish representative sample: prevalence and associated factors

“…Specifically, lifetime depression might represent a risk factor for the development of MCI, while latelife depression might constitute a prodromal phase for subsequent dementia (Heser et al, 2013).…”

From Subjective Cognitive Complaints to Dementia

“…Eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and did not exclude MCI at baseline. [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] All studies are population based. Detailed cohorts' information can be found in Table 2.…”

“…However, 3MS is not sensitive enough to exclude MCI individuals at baseline. In the other 6 studies, [28][29][30][31][32][33] no objective cognitive tests were used to assess MCI at baseline. These 8 studies could thus have included cognitively normal and cognitively impaired participants at baseline.…”