Many chronic or fatal diseases can cause depression. This makes perfect sense. Especially in diseases that affect the brain, like dementia. It’s common knowledge that depression can be effectively treated with antidepressant medications. Of course, this is a great option for those affected. However, in the elderly population, more caution is advised when taking medications. Whether or not there is a link between antidepressants and dementia is an open debate.
Times of Israel discusses this possible correlation. A recent study of 71,000 elderly Israelis was conducted. It suggested that those over 60 taking antidepressants increase their dementia risk three times. From 2013 through 2017, it looked at dementia onset in a huge sample of people over 60.
This particular study found that 2.6 percent of those who didn’t take antidepressant medications developed dementia. By contrast, this number soared to nearly 11 percent for those who took the medication. While these statistics may sounds extremely frightening, researchers still disagree on the validity of the findings.
Some research suggests antidepressants cause damage to nerve cells over time. Yet some say the exact opposite could be the case. Some researchers claim depression is one of dementia’s earliest symptoms. It could appear a handful of years prior to any other signs of dementia. Therefore, those who experience depression late in life could already be developing dementia.
But rest assured, they don’t always go hand in hand. Just because you experience depression late in life doesn’t mean you will develop dementia. In addition, it is always important to weigh the risks and benefits of any medications. Medications can be tricky and frightening to take. Especially in the elderly population. Because the evidence for this correlation is still up for debate, it is best to discuss antidepressant use with your physician.