DEPRESSION OR DEMENTIA IS RELATED MORE TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive and behavioral impairment that significantly interferes with social and occupational functioning. Depression and dementia are common in the elderly and frequently occur together. The timing of depression may be important in defining the nature of the association. Depression in early life doubles dementia risk, while depression in later life is more probable to be prodromal to dementia. The risk to develop AD is higher in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than in depressed elderly. Depression in MCI hastens conversion to Alzheimer’s disease. In cognitively normal elders, the presence of depression increases the risk of MCI. From theories that explain the association between depression and AD are vascular depression theory, increased cortisone level, a higher burden of ab plaques, chronic inflammatory processes, and accelerated cellular aging. The current evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits vs. harms of screening for cognitive impairment in the elderly.  If dementia is suspected, physicians can use brief screening. If the results are abnormal, further evaluation is warranted. Finally, MCI was the first predictive condition that increased the risk to develop AD. Depression is an additional risk factor for conversion to AD in MCI.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Depression.