Latest news with #JacobBrain
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Common condition plaguing 1 in 6 Brits ‘increases the risk of deadly dementia'
FROM diabetes to high blood pressure, several health conditions have been linked to dementia over the years. And now there's new evidence for another one to be added to the list - as scientists have found depression increases the risk of the mind-robbing disease in both mid and later life. 1 The potential links between depression and dementia include chronic inflammation Credit: Getty Previous studies have shown that people with depression are more likely to develop dementia later in life. But there's been a lot of debate about when depression matters most, whether it's depression that starts in midlife - in your 40s or 50s, or depression that appears later in life - in your 60s or beyond. The new research, led by Jacob Brain and Maha Alshahrani from the Institute of Mental Health and School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, University of Adelaide and the Dementia Centre of Excellence at Curtin University in Australia, brings together all the existing evidence and adds new analysis to examine this timing in more detail. Mr Brain said: "Our study shows that depression is linked to an increased risk of dementia in both midlife and late life. "This highlights the importance of recognising and treating depression across the life course, not just for mental health, but also as part of a broader strategy to protect brain health. "Public health efforts need to place greater emphasis on preventative brain health, including scaling up access to effective mental health care." The research team gathered and reviewed all the best available data from systematic reviews with meta-analyses (a statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to provide a more reliable overall estimate), that had already looked at the link between depression and dementia. They then went a step further by extracting and re-analysing data from the individual studies within those reviews, plus they added in newer studies that were missed in the earlier work. Mr Brain added: 'We specifically focused on the timing of when depression was measured, whether it was measured in midlife or in later life, and calculated how much it increased the risk of developing dementia. "This essentially allowed us to provide a more accurate and up-to-date picture of how depression at different life stages is linked to dementia risk.' There are many treatments available on the NHS to help with low mood and depression The potential links between depression and dementia are complex and may include chronic inflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, vascular changes, alterations to neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter imbalances. Shared genetic and behavioural related changes may also increase the risks. In Autumn 2022 it was found about 16 per cent of adults (around one in six) in Great Britain experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Depression can also be a symptom of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, which can cause mood changes. The challenges of living with dementia, such as memory loss and difficulty with daily tasks, can also contribute to feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Dementia affects over 57 million people globally. There's currently no cure, so identifying and treating the factors to reduce the risk, such as depression, should be an important public health priority, stress the researchers.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Common condition plaguing 1 in 6 Brits ‘increases the risk of deadly dementia'
FROM diabetes to high blood pressure, several health conditions have been linked to dementia over the years. And now there's new evidence for another one to be added to the list - as scientists have found depression increases the risk of the mind-robbing disease in both mid and later life. 1 Previous studies have shown that people with depression are more likely to develop dementia later in life. But there's been a lot of debate about when depression matters most, whether it's depression that starts in midlife - in your 40s or 50s, or depression that appears later in life - in your 60s or beyond. The new research, led by Jacob Brain and Maha Alshahrani from the Institute of Mental Health and School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, University of Adelaide and the Dementia Centre of Excellence at Curtin University in Australia, brings together all the existing evidence and adds new analysis to examine this timing in more detail. Mr Brain said: "Our study shows that depression is linked to an increased risk of dementia in both midlife and late life. "This highlights the importance of recognising and treating depression across the life course, not just for mental health, but also as part of a broader strategy to protect brain health. "Public health efforts need to place greater emphasis on preventative brain health, including scaling up access to effective mental health care." The research team gathered and reviewed all the best available data from systematic reviews with meta-analyses (a statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to provide a more reliable overall estimate), that had already looked at the link between depression and dementia. They then went a step further by extracting and re-analysing data from the individual studies within those reviews, plus they added in newer studies that were missed in the earlier work. Mr Brain added: 'We specifically focused on the timing of when depression was measured, whether it was measured in midlife or in later life, and calculated how much it increased the risk of developing dementia. "This essentially allowed us to provide a more accurate and up-to-date picture of how depression at different life stages is linked to dementia risk.' There are many treatments available on the NHS to help with low mood and depression The potential links between depression and dementia are complex and may include chronic inflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, vascular changes, alterations to neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter imbalances. Shared genetic and behavioural related changes may also increase the risks. In Autumn 2022 it was found about 16 per cent of adults (around one in six) in Great Britain experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Depression can also be a symptom of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, which can cause mood changes. The challenges of living with dementia, such as memory loss and difficulty with daily tasks, can also contribute to feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Dementia affects over 57 million people globally. There's currently no cure, so identifying and treating the factors to reduce the risk, such as depression, should be an important public health priority, stress the researchers. Depression can manifest in many ways. We all feel a bit low from time to time. But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through. They may also struggle to about daily life. Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience: How you might feel Down, upset or tearful Restless, agitated or irritable Guilty, worthless and down on yourself Empty and numb Isolated and unable to relate to other people Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy Angry or frustrated over minor things A sense of unreality No self-confidence or self-esteem Hopeless and despairing Feeling tired all the time How you might act Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy Self-harming or suicidal behaviour Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions Losing interest in sex Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123, jo@ CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@ or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Dementia risk soars if you're hit by mid-life problem that affects 10million Britons, researchers find
People who suffer with depression in mid-life are more likely to develop dementia, according to a new study. In a major study of 2.5million people, British experts discovered that lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness in your 40s and 50s increases the risk of the disease by as much as 56 per cent. The researchers also identified a significant link between late life depression, where symptoms develop at around 65 years of age or older, and dementia. Lead author Professor Jacob Brain, from the Institute of Mental Health and School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham said the findings suggested that depression could be a 'warning sign' of upcoming cognitive decline. 'This highlights the importance of recognising and treating depression across the life course, not just for mental health, but also as part of a broader strategy to protect brain health,' he said. The team said the potential links between depression and dementia are complex, but highlighted chronic inflammation and changes in blood flow to the brain as potential causes for the comorbidity. It is thought that depression may accelerate the cognitive collapse that is associated with dementia—for instance memory loss, language difficulties and problems with thinking and reasoning. However, the authors stated that the link between depression and dementia in later life may be because the memory-robbing disease can cause mood problems in its early stages. Writing in the EClinicalMedicine journal, Prof Brain said: 'Depression in late life may represent an early manifestation of dementia.' The researchers concluded that early detection and treatment for depression could minimise the risk of dementia onset—and this should be a focus for future research. They added that further research is needed to confirm whether interventions that promote physical activity and other lifestyle changes to support mental health earlier in life can reduce dementia risk. However, researchers noted the prevelance of depression among participants may have been overestimated—as not all depressed volunteers were diagnosed by a medical professional. Around 982,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, according to Alzheimer's Association. Dementia is an umbrella term for several diseases—the most common of which is Alzheimer's—that affect memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily activities. The condition gets worse over time, as the disease attacks nerve cells in the brain, typically leading to the deterioration of cognitive function. Dementia cases are expected to sky-rocket to 1.4million people by 2040, making early prevention treatments vital to get to grips with the challenge. The disease cost the UK around £42billion in 2024 alone. The cost of dementia in the UK is forecast to be £90 billion in the next 15 years. The latest findings come as Spanish scientists recently discovered that upping your exercise quota around middle age could help stave off Alzheimer's disease in later life. They found that those who increased their activity levels to around two and a half hours a week were less prone to toxic protein amyloid spreading in the brain. Significant clumps of this protein, along with another, tau, can form plaques and tangles in the brain—which is thought to be behind dementia symptoms. Experts have warned for years that leading a sedentary lifestyle raises the risk of numerous health problems including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cancer and even an early grave. It has been estimated that 13 per cent of all Alzheimer's cases could be linked to physical inactivity. It comes as a landmark study last year also suggested almost half of all Alzheimer's cases could be prevented by tackling 14 lifestyle factors. To reduce dementia risk throughout life, the commission also made 13 recommendations for both people and governments. These include making hearing aids available for all those who need it, reducing harmful noise exposure, and increased detection and treatment access for high cholesterol among the over-40s. Experts claimed the study, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, provided more hope than 'ever before' that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions can be prevented.
