Prolonged depression in youth linked to midlife cognitive decline, especially in black adults. A study published on June 12, 2024, in Neurology® , found that people with prolonged depression symptoms starting in young adulthood may have worse thinking and memory skills in middle age. The study also revealed that Black adults experience depressive symptoms more often than white adults.
Dr. Leslie Grasset from the University of Bordeaux noted that the processes leading to dementia start early, and Black adults have a higher risk of dementia. The study showed that long-term depressive symptoms negatively affect middle-age cognitive skills, especially for Black adults.
The study followed 3,117 people, starting at an average age of 30, with 47% Black and 53% white participants. Participants were assessed for depressive symptoms every five years over 20 years. They filled out questionnaires about appetite, sleep, concentration, and feelings of worthlessness, sadness, or loneliness.
Higher scores indicated more symptoms. Researchers grouped participants into four categories based on their symptom progression: persistently low, medium decreasing, persistently medium, and high increasing symptoms. More Black participants were in the persistently medium (52%) and high increasing (70%) groups.
At an average age of 55, participants took three tests to assess thinking and memory. In one test, they matched numbers to symbols as quickly as possible. Scores ranged from 0 to 133, with lower .
