Depression and Alzheimer's Disease Ann Arbor MI

If you suffer from depression you've probably noticed that your memory isn't as sharp as it used to be. Now, new research conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) indicates that having these two conditions can increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

According to Aaron Nelson and Susan Gilbert, authors of The Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory, mood disorders such as depression can affect cognitive functions such as concentration, focus, and absorbing new information - which all impact memory. Furthermore, chronic or long-term depression may damage neurons in the brain that play a role in memory.

Memory, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

It's normal for memory to decline as we get older. However, according to the UCLA researchers, people who suffer from depression and have mild cognitive impairment or memory problems have a greater chance of developing Alzheimer's than people who aren't depressed.

As the researchers explain, mild cognitive impairment is the transitional stage between cognitive decline of normal aging and Alzheimer's disease. People who are in this transitional period tend to have more memory problems than those usually associated with normal aging, but they don't necessarily have other symptoms of Alzheimer's.

The Depression Connection

The UCLA team assessed 756 people between ages 55 and 91 who had mild cognitive impairment. Of those, 208 had depression, as indicated by a test that measured the severity and intensity of depressive symptoms. For every one-point increase on the test, a participant's risk of getting Alzheimer's increased by three percent...

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