Cited by 312Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsTreatment of Major Depression

Depression—an underrecognized target for prevention of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease

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Dafsari, Forugh S., Jessen, Frank·2020·Translational Psychiatry

Abstract

It is broadly acknowledged that the onset of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be modifiable by the management of risk factors. While several recent guidelines and multidomain intervention trials on prevention of cognitive decline address lifestyle factors and risk diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, a special reference to the established risk factor of depression or depressive symptoms is systematically lacking. In this article we review epidemiological studies and biological mechanisms linking depression with AD and cognitive decline. We also emphasize the effects of antidepressive treatment on AD pathology including the molecular effects of antidepressants on neurogenesis, amyloid burden, tau pathology, and inflammation. We advocate moving depression and depressive symptoms into the focus of prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. We constitute that early treatment of depressive symptoms may impact on the disease course of AD and affect the risk of developing dementia and we propose the need for clinical trials.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41398-020-0839-1

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  • Neuropsychiatric symptoms may accelerate the course of neurodegenerative diseases and are potential modifying risk factors for cognitive decline.

    “NPS may accelerate the course of neurodegenerative diseases and are potential modifying risk factors for cognitive decline [21–25].”

    From Psychotherapeutic interventions in individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia: a systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [21]

    The section “Depression as an accelerating factor of cognitive decline before and within dementia” describes depression as a potential modifiable factor and an accelerating factor in progression to MCI and dementia. This supports the claim for depressive symptoms, but the paper does not establish it for neuropsychiatric symptoms generally or for neurodegenerative diseases beyond the dementia context discussed. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [5]World Health Organization. Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia: WHO Guidelines 1–96 (World Health Organization, Geneva, 2019). https://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/dementia/guidelines_risk_reduction/en/. 31219687

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Authors
Dafsari, F. S., & Jessen, F.
Affiliations
University of Cologne (DE)
Corresponding author
Dafsari, Forugh S.
Venue
Translational Psychiatry
Published
2020-05-20
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
160-160
ISSN
2158-3188 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3028374504
Cited by
312
References
121
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 68 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 6
FWCI
5.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Translational Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Kölner Universitäts PublikationsServer (Universität zu Köln) (publishedVersion)
  • DZNE Pub (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
depression, Alzheimer's disease, dementia prevention, cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, antidepressants, neurogenesis, amyloid burden, tau pathology, neuroinflammation, risk factors, early treatment
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Depression, Humans, Life Style, Risk Factors, Cognitive Dysfunction

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