Constant sadness, loss of interest and pleasure, insomnia, abnormal fatigue… These symptoms occur in the event of a depressive episode. “Depression and cognitive decline often coexist in older adults and share several mechanisms. Despite the fact that cognitive dysfunction has been associated with increased depressive symptoms, the direction of this association remains unclear,” reported scientists from the University of Rochester (USA) and University College London (England). That’s why they decided to conduct a study, the results of which were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
In this work, researchers sought to determine whether there was a bidirectional link between depressive symptoms and cognitive function in English adults aged 50 or older over a 16-year follow-up period. . To do this, they examined data from an aging cohort. The latter included 8,268 people, of whom 4,517 were women, with an average age of 64 years. Participants answered a series of questions every two years. According to the results, people with higher depressive symptoms were more likely to experience a faster decline in memory later, while those who started with lower memory were more likely to experience a later increase in symptoms depressed.
Depression and memory are closely linked
According to the authors, depression could affect memory due to brain changes linked to this psychological illness. These changes include neurochemical imbalances (e.g. lower levels of serotonin and dopamine), structural changes in regions involved in memory processing, and disruptions in the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections. .
Memory problems could also be caused by psychological factors, such as ruminating. Another finding: Patients with memory problems or difficulty retaining new information can lead to frustration, loss of confidence and feelings of incompetence, which are common triggers for depressive episodes. Memory problems can also disrupt daily functioning and social interactions, leading to social isolation that can trigger depressive symptoms.
“Interventions to reduce depressive symptoms could help slow memory decline”
“Our study shows that the relationship between depression and poor memory goes both ways, with depressive symptoms preceding memory decline and memory decline being linked to later depressive symptoms. It also suggests that interventions aimed at Reducing depressive symptoms could help slow memory decline. said Dorina Cadar, co-author of the research.
