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Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Does late onset depression predispose to dementia? A retrospective, case-controlled study
Irit Ohanna1, Hava Golander, Yoram Barak
1Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 59100 Israel.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|January 4, 2011
Summary
Late onset depression (LOD) may precede dementia. Individuals with LOD who developed dementia had longer hospitalizations, family history of dementia, and early life trauma exposure.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Late onset depression (LOD) presents distinct clinical and biological features.
- Emerging evidence suggests LOD may be a prodromal stage for dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between late onset depression and the subsequent development of dementia.
- To identify risk factors for dementia in patients with LOD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, case-controlled study design.
- Involved 102 patients from a tertiary care mental health center.
- Compared 51 patients with LOD who developed dementia to 51 with LOD who did not over 10 years.
Main Results:
- Patients with LOD who developed dementia showed significantly longer initial hospitalizations (P = .048).
- A family history of dementia (P = .022) and early adult exposure to the Holocaust (P = .013) were significant risk factors.
- Alzheimer's disease (73%) was the most common dementia type, followed by vascular/mixed (24%) and Parkinsonian dementia (3%).
Conclusions:
- Early life trauma and prolonged depression onset may increase dementia risk.
- Further prospective research is needed to confirm these findings and explore preventative strategies.
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