New research finds that depression and memory decline may be strongly linked Having one upped the odds for the other, and numerous neurological mechanisms could explain the connection Depression treatment could be key to preserving memory with age WEDNESDAY, June 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Depression and memory declines may be closely linked in older people, new research suggests. “Our study shows that the relationship between depression and poor memory cuts both ways, with depressive symptoms preceding memory decline and memory decline linked to subsequent depressive symptoms," said senior study author , of University College London. The study suggests that effective treatment could help preserve memory function with age, she added in a university news release.
The new findings come from an analysis of data from the ongoing English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, where people are tracked by questionnaires every two years. In this sample, 16 years of data were collected from nearly 8,300 adults averaging 64 years of age. In contrast to the finding that memory and depression were closely intertwined, the research did not show a strong relationship between depression and another marker of brain health, verbal fluency.
Cadar, who is a research fellow in dementia at UCL, said it's not surprising that battles with depression could affect memory over time. “Depression can cause changes in brain structures, such as the hippocampus, which is critical for memory formation and retr.
