Lifetime of Depression Linked to Brain Changes in Alzheimer's

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Smilemaker100

Membership Revoked
Removed
15+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
After analyzing neuropathological changes in patients that had a history of Alzheimer's disease and a lifetime history of major depression, researchers found out that there are more plaque and tangle deposits in the hippocampus of postmortem samples. Researchers have suggested that such patients will exhibit a more rapid cognitive decline than those without a history of depression.

While there is still more room for investigation (such as neuroimaging data), these results imply possible new clinical approaches in the treatment of Alzheimer's. Any comments?

Archives of General Psychiatry, February 2006
Rapp, Michael A. MD. PhD., et al. " Increased Hippocampal Plaques and Tangles in Patients With Alzheimer Disease With a Lifetime History of Major Depression," pp 161-167;