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Dementia subtypes and suicidality: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Eleanor Nuzum1, Radvile Medeisyte1, Roopal Desai1
1ADAPT Lab, Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology Department, University College London, London, UK.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|January 2, 2025
Summary
Individuals with Vascular Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia face higher risks of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to Alzheimer's Disease. Further research is crucial for understanding these elevated risks in rarer dementia subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Psychiatry
- Neuroscience and Neurology
- Public Health and Epidemiology
Background:
- Growing evidence links dementia to increased risks of suicidal ideation, attempts, and deaths.
- Understanding differential suicide risks across dementia subtypes is critical for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the relative risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide deaths among different dementia subtypes.
- To establish comparative suicidality risks relative to Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of five databases (inception to July 2023) for relevant peer-reviewed studies.
- Inclusion criteria: studies reporting suicidal ideation, attempts, or deaths for at least two dementia subtypes.
- Meta-analyses were conducted to compare suicidality between dementia subtypes and AD.
Main Results:
- Vascular Dementia patients showed significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation (OR=2.02) and suicide attempts (OR=1.94) versus AD.
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies patients had increased suicidal ideation (OR=1.56) but not suicide attempts compared to AD.
- Frontotemporal Dementia (OR=2.42) and Mixed Dementia (OR=2.83) patients exhibited significantly higher suicide attempt rates than AD.
Conclusions:
- Specific dementia subtypes, including Vascular Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia, are associated with elevated risks of suicidal ideation and attempts.
- Further investigation is required to elucidate the underlying factors contributing to these increased risks in less common dementia forms.
- These findings underscore the need for tailored mental health support for individuals with diverse dementia diagnoses.
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