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Cited by 416Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAging, Health, and DisabilityCancer-related cognitive impairment studies

Is depression a risk factor for dementia or cognitive decline?

Jorm, A.F.·2000·Gerontology
DOI 10.1159/000022163
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that depression can be associated with significant cognitive deficits and that depression can be comorbid with dementia. OBJECTIVE: This review seeks to go further and ask whether depression earlier in life can be a risk factor for subsequent dementia or for cognitive decline. METHODS: A review was made of the epidemiological evidence from case-control and prospective studies that depression is a risk factor. The literature was also reviewed in relation to six hypotheses that might explain an association: (1) depression treatments are a risk factor for dementia, (2) dementia and depression share common risk factors, (3) depression is a prodrome of dementia, (4) depression is an early reaction to cognitive decline, (5) depression affects the threshold for manifesting dementia, and (6) depression is a causal factor in dementia. RESULTS: A meta-analysis found that depression was associated with an increased risk of subsequent dementia in both case-control studies (95% CI for relative risk: 1.16-3.50) and prospective studies (95% CI: 1.08-3.20). There was little support for hypotheses 1 and 2. The other hypotheses have limited support, but warrant further research. CONCLUSION: There is sufficient evidence to take seriously the possibility that depression is a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. Further work is needed to examine depression as a prodrome of vascular dementia, depression as an early reaction to perceived cognitive decline, the effects of depression on the threshold for manifesting dementia, and depression as a source of hippocampal damage through a glucocorticoid cascade.

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  • Depression is characterized not only by feelings of sadness and worthlessness, but also by inertia, lethargy, and impaired cognition that is more prevalent in the elderly.

    “Depression is characterized not only by feelings of sadness and worthlessness, but also by inertia, lethargy, and impaired cognition that is more prevalent in the elderly (Geda et al., 2006) (Jorm, 2000; Kumar et al., 2006).”

    From Biological rhythms, higher brain function, and behavior: Gaps, opportunities, and challenges (2009) · cites this paper as Jorm, 2000

  • Mood and affective disorders are associated with impairments in cognition, including deficits in attention and memory, which are exacerbated by aging.

    “Mood and affective disorders are associated with impairments in cognition, including deficits in attention and memory, which are exacerbated by aging (Jorm, 2000; Kumar et al., 2006).”

    From Biological rhythms, higher brain function, and behavior: Gaps, opportunities, and challenges (2009) · cites this paper as Jorm, 2000

  • In humans, the incidence of depression and impairments in cognitive function, most notably spatial memory, are higher among the elderly.

    “In humans, the incidence of depression and impairments in cognitive function, most notably spatial memory, are higher among the elderly (Geda et al, 2006; Jorm, 2000; Kumar et al., 2006).”

    From Biological rhythms, higher brain function, and behavior: Gaps, opportunities, and challenges (2009) · cites this paper as Jorm, 2000

  • Depression is difficult to differentiate clinically from dementia and early cognitive decline.

    “Second, depression occurs more frequently in people with diabetes [73] and is difficult to differentiate clinically from dementia and early cognitive decline [74 -77].”

    From Cognitive decline and dementia in diabetes—systematic overview of prospective observational studies (2005) · cites this paper as [77]

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Authors
Jorm, A. F.
Affiliations
Australian National University (AU)
Corresponding author
Jorm, A.F.
ORCID
Jorm, A.F.
Venue
Gerontology
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Published
2000
Volume
46
Issue
4
Pages
219-227
ISSN
  • 0304-324X (ISSN-L)
  • 1423-0003
DOI
10.1159/000022163
OpenAlex
W2028858815
Cited by
416
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 27
FWCI
10.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Gerontology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
Keywords
depression, dementia risk, cognitive decline, vascular dementia, hippocampal lesions, comorbidities
MeSH terms
Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Models, Psychological, Risk Factors, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Case-Control Studies

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