A recent study has shown that certain midlife depression symptoms increase the risk of developing dementia later in life. Published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the study analyzed data from 5,811 adults aged 45 to 69 who did not have dementia. The research team evaluated 30 common depression symptoms using a questionnaire and then tracked the participants' health for 25 years. During this period, 10% of the participants developed dementia. Only six of the 30 recorded depression symptoms were closely linked to an increased risk of dementia. These symptoms are:• Loss of self-confidence.• Inability to cope with problems.• Lack of warmth towards others.• Constant tension and anxiety.• Dissatisfaction with task performance.• Difficulty concentrating. In contrast, other common symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, suicidal thoughts, or low mood, showed no long-term association with dementia.
