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New-onset depression in older adults may be an early sign of dementia.
This was shown in a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
The scientists analyzed data from 154 people who underwent multiple brain PET scans between 2010 and 2022. Amyloid plaques were found in the patients’ brains. The accumulation of these plaques occurs during Alzheimer’s disease.
People who had amyloid plaques in areas of the brain associated with mood control had improved scores on tests of depression. This was also observed in patients who were not depressed at baseline. Depression is common in people with dementia.
However, it was thought that this could be caused by memory loss or complications in daily life. New-onset depression in older people could be an early sign of dementia, new research suggests.
If the results are confirmed, doctors will be able to detect Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage. This would allow patients to start taking anti-dementia drugs earlier.
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