6 depression symptoms in midlife linked to almost 50% higher dementia risk

• In 2021, about 57 million people globally were living with dementia.
• Researchers have identified a number of risk factors for dementia including specific health conditions such as depression during midlife.
• A new study has identified six specific depressive symptoms that, when experienced in midlife, may be the drivers behind increased dementia risk later in life.

In 2021, about 57 million people globally were living with dementia — an umbrella term for neurological conditions that impact a person’s cognitive skills and memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

While researchers are still unclear what exactly causes dementia, they have identified a number of risk factors including genetics, environmental factors, certain lifestyle choices, and specific health conditions.

One such condition is depression, especially during midlife.

Now a new study recently published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry has identified six specific depressive symptoms that, when experienced in midlife, may be the drivers behind increased dementia risk later in life.