Abstract
ABSTRACTThe relationship between depressive disorders in the elderly and dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is highly complex. While the nature of this relationship is still a matter of debate, differential diagnosis and treatment remain a great clinical challenge. We review recent findings on the conundrum of depressive disorders in the elderly and AD. There is a biological continuum between depressive disorders in the elderly – or at least a subgroup of them – and AD. While elderly subjects with depression and patients with AD exhibit higher circulating levels of pro-inflammatory molecules and lower BDNF than matched controls, CSF levels of Aβ42 can discriminate AD from depressive disorders in the elderly. The role of antidepressant treatment as a strategy to minimize the risk of AD remains to be established.
Highlights
The relationship between depressive disorders in the elderly and dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is highly complex
Depressive disorders have a significant social impact, and major depressive disorder (MDD) accounts for 5.7% of years lived with disability (YLDs) among people older than 60 years.[1]
Increased risk of dementia was observed in patients with steadily increasing depressive symptoms (8%), but not in the other patterns of depressive symptoms.[25]
Summary
Barbosa[1,2], Weihong Kuang[3], Antonio L. Teixeira[1,4,5]
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