New-onset depression in an older person may be an early sign of dementia.
This was shown by a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Scientists analyzed data from 154 people who underwent multiple PET scans of the brain between 2010 and 2022. Amyloid protein plaques were found in the brains of the patients. The accumulation of these formations occurs during Alzheimer's disease.
Increased scores on depression tests were found in people with amyloid plaques in areas of the brain associated with emotional control. This was observed in patients who were not depressed at baseline. Depression is common in people with dementia.
However, it was thought this could be caused by memory loss or complications in daily life. New research suggests that new-onset depression in older adults may be an early sign of dementia.
If the results are confirmed, doctors will be able to detect Alzheimer's disease at an early stage. This would allow patients to start taking anti-dementia drugs earlier.
