Late-Life Depression versus Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Alzheimer's Disease Incidence in 4 Years of Follow-Up

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2018;46(3-4):140-153. doi: 10.1159/000492489. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic power of late-life depression (LLD) compared with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) for the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) within 4 years of follow-up.

Methods: We estimated the incidence of AD in 60 patients presenting with aMCI, 115 patients suffering of LLD treated with antidepressants with good compliance, and 66 healthy control (HC) patients, followed for 4 years.

Results: The risk to develop AD, within 4 years, was 68.33% for aMCI and 49.57% for LLD. In AD patients 5.60% deteriorated without depression, and 72.20% deteriorated with depression after 4 years of follow-up (p < 0.0001). No HC patients deteriorated to AD or any other dementia type.

Conclusion: In our results, aMCI was the first predictive condition that increased the risk to develop AD. Depression is a potentially preventable medical condition across the lifespan and may be a modifiable risk factor.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Amnestic mild cognitive impairment; Incidence; Late-life depression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
  • Alzheimer Disease / epidemiology
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnosis*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / epidemiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / psychology
  • Depression / diagnosis*
  • Depression / drug therapy
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents