The latest research into Alzheimer’s and the progression of the disease suggests that many people show signs of developing depression before they start to show signs of diminished cognitive abilities.

More research needed

Before doctors can positively say that sudden cases of depression in people over fifty who have not suffered a recent major life altering event is the sign of Alzheimer’s more studies into the association between beta-amyloid plaque formation and the symptoms of depression needs to be done.

The current information is exciting for medical professionals who treat Alzheimer’s patients, but further research is needed before the understanding of the exact link between depression and dementia can be clear.

What this means for the future

In the future, doctors may be able to predict which patients are likely to develop cognitive issues due to their mood changes as they age.

Depression and Alzheimer’s disease

According to the Alzheimer’s Association about forty percent of the patients who have this brain disease also have depression issues.

Paul Schulz, MD, is a neurologist from the University of Texas Medical School. He said that you can divide the people who have both depression and Alzheimer’s disease into three categories.

The three groups of depression and Alzheimer’s sufferers include:

  1. People who have suffered from bouts of depression all throughout their lives. These individuals are at a much higher risk of developing dementia.
  2. People who develop the dementia and become depressed due to the changes in their lives.
  3. People who develop depression or exhibit a behavioral change shortly before they exhibit the signs of cognitive abilities beginning to diminish.

What the study means for doctors

This study shows doctors that there may be a connection between depression and Alzheimer’s. That does not mean that every person over the age of fifty that suffers from depression is going to be an Alzheimer’s patient.

It does mean that when a doctor has a patient over the age of fifty come in with a sudden development of depression that the doctor can consider that they might be seeing the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Whenever a new symptom is discovered that could indicate the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s people in the medical profession are given another opportunity to help the individual patient, and their family members prepare for the disease, and start early preventative measures to prolong the possible progression of the disease.

More research needed

Before doctors can positively say that sudden cases of depression in people over fifty who have not suffered a recent major life altering event is the sign of Alzheimer’s more studies into the association between beta-amyloid plaque formation and the symptoms of depression needs to be done.

The current information is exciting for medical professionals who treat Alzheimer’s patients, but further research is needed before the understanding of the exact link between depression and dementia can be clear.

What this means for the future

In the future, doctors may be able to predict which patients are likely to develop cognitive issues due to their mood changes as they age.