A study led by UCL Researchers have found that there are six particular depressive symptoms that when experienced in midlife can help in predicting dementia risk more than two decades later.
Depression in midlife has long been linked to a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. However, new research published in The Lancet Psychiatry suggests that this risk is not caused by depression as a whole — but by a small group of specific symptoms.
The study found that dementia risk was associated with the following symptoms experienced in midlife:
- Loss of self-confidence
- Difficulty coping with problems
- Reduced feelings of warmth or affection toward others
- Feeling constantly nervous or tense
- Dissatisfaction with how tasks are carried out
- Problems with concentration
Researchers suggest that paying closer attention to these particular symptoms when treating depression in midlife could help reduce dementia risk later in life. However, they stress that more research is needed.
Lead author Dr Philipp Frank, Senior Research Fellow at UCL’s Division of Psychiatry explains:
“Our findings show that dementia risk is linked to a handful of depressive symptoms rather than depression as a whole. This symptom-level approach gives us a much clearer picture of who may be more vulnerable decades before dementia develops.”
He adds that everyday symptoms experienced by many people in midlife may hold important clues about long-term brain health and could offer new opportunities for early prevention. Researchers analysed data from 5,811 middle-aged adults who took part in the Whitehall II study, a long-running UK health study that began in 1985. Participants were followed for 25 years, with dementia diagnoses tracked through national health records up to 2023. During the follow-up period, 10.1% of participants developed dementia
The study found that people who experienced depression in midlife had a 27% higher risk of developing dementia later in life, but this increased risk was driven by just six specific symptoms rather than depression as a whole.
Professor Mika Kivimäki Chair of Social Epidemiology at UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, who leads the Whitehall II study, said:
“Depression doesn’t have a single shape. Symptoms vary widely and often overlap with anxiety. Understanding these patterns brings us closer to more personalised and effective mental health treatments.”
Professor Gill Livingston Professor of Psychiatry of Older People at UCL Division of Psychiatry, Chair of the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, added:
“This research shows that depression is not one single illness. There is some evidence that treating depression in midlife may reduce dementia risk, but we need further research to understand how best to do this.”
If you would like to read more about this article, you can find it on UCL’s News page: Specific depressive symptoms in midlife linked to increased dementia risk
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