6 symptoms of depression could increase dementia risk

(Katia Hetter/ CNN News) — We often discuss depression and dementia separately, although scientists have long observed a connection between the two: People with depression appear to have a higher likelihood of developing dementia later in life.

A new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry adds an important twist in untangling that relationship and looks beyond depression as a single diagnosis. By focusing on specific symptoms, the research raises a more precise and potentially more useful question: Could certain symptoms in midlife signal greater vulnerability to dementia decades later? And if so, what should people and clinicians do with that information now?

The researchers wanted to answer a specific question: When studies find that depression is linked to dementia, is the risk tied to depression as a broad diagnosis or, potentially, a smaller set of specific symptoms within depression? To guide us through this topic, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. (…)