Antidepressants play a vital role in treating depression, helping countless people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Recently, however, there has been concern about whether long-term use of antidepressants could increase the risk of dementia. Understanding the latest research on this topic is essential for patients and their families.
A study led by Dr. Jaime Ramos-Cejudo from the VA Boston Healthcare System, was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center. It shows that using antidepressants during midlife does not increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other AD-related dementias (ADRD). The younger age of the study group limited the number of dementia cases observed. Additionally, not including data from supplemental insurance programs like Medicare might have restricted the scope of the findings. This conclusion comes from a comprehensive study of US veterans.
Study Overview
Researchers examined data from 35,200 US veterans aged 55 and older who were diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) between January 1, 2000, and June 1, 2022. These veterans were monitored for up to 20 years to see if they developed AD or ADRD. The study utilized electronic health records from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Corporate Data Warehouse. Participants needed to have been under VHA care for at least a year before their diagnosis and were considered to be taking antidepressants if they had prescriptions lasting three months or more.
Significant Insights
Out of the study group, 32,500 were diagnosed with MDD, with an average age of 65 years, and 91% of them were men. About 17,000 patients were treated with antidepressants for a median duration of four years. The median follow-up period was 3.2 years. The study found no significant link between taking antidepressants and the risk of developing AD/ADRD (with 1056 events; hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.80-1.08) compared to those not taking antidepressants. Additionally, different classes of antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), were also not associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Practical Implications
Researchers noted that the increased dementia risk observed in some past studies might be due to depression itself rather than the medications used to treat it. They emphasized the importance of considering these and other factors in clinical practice and the need for further research, especially in more diverse populations that include more women.
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