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Struggling with concentration or experiencing a decline in personal confidence during midlife may indicate an increased risk of developing dementia In later life, new research suggests.
on academics University College London (UCL) Six specific symptoms in middle age were identified that may serve as “early markers of underlying neurodegenerative processes”.
The findings stem from an analysis of data from 5,811 participants in the UK Whitehall II study, who provided detailed information on their health, including mental well-being.
During an average follow-up period of 23 years, 586 people developed dementia.
Writing in the Lancet Psychiatry journal, researchers said six depressive symptoms “emerged as strong midlife indicators of increased dementia risk”.
These include:
- lose confidence in yourself
- not able to cope with problems
- not feeling warmth and affection toward others
- being nervous and anxious all the time
- Not satisfied with the way tasks are performed
- difficulty concentrating
People who reported that they had lost confidence in themselves in midlife had a 51 percent increased risk of dementia in later life.
Among those who said they were “not able to cope with their problems,” the risk increased by 49 percent.
Reporting “not feeling warmth and affection toward others” increased the risk by 44 percent, while reporting feeling nervous and “tired” increased the risk of dementia in later life by 34 percent.
Those who were not satisfied with how they worked had a 33 percent increased risk of dementia after 20 years, while those who reported difficulties concentrating had a 29 percent increased risk.
“A distinct set of midlife depressive symptoms was associated with an increased risk of dementia, suggesting that these symptoms may be early markers of underlying neurodegenerative processes,” the authors wrote.
Dr Philip Frank, from the UCL Division of Psychiatry, lead author of the study, said: “Our findings suggest that the risk of dementia is associated with a handful of depressive symptoms rather than depression overall.
“This symptom-level approach gives us a clearer picture of who may be more vulnerable decades before developing dementia.
“The everyday symptoms that many people experience in midlife hold important information about long-term brain health.
“Paying attention to these patterns may open new opportunities for early prevention.”
Professor Mika Kivimäki, from the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, who leads the Whitehall II study and co-authored the paper, said: “Depression is not one size fits all – symptoms vary widely and often overlap with anxiety.
“We found that these nuanced patterns can reveal who is at greater risk of developing neurological disorders.”
Commenting on the paper, Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The relationship between dementia and depression is complex. It is encouraging to see that this new observational study is beginning to uncover how dementia and depression are linked.
“However, more research is needed to confirm whether these six traits also apply to women and ethnic minorities.
“It is important to note that not everyone with depression will develop dementia, and not everyone with dementia will necessarily develop depression.”