People With Dementia At Higher Risk Of Psychiatric Disorders Up To Three Years Before Dementia Diagnosis

People with dementia had a 72% higher risk of psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, during the three years before being diagnosed with dementia compared to age-matched controls who did not develop dementia. The incidence of psychiatric disorders declined 7% during the five years following the dementia diagnosis. The results were similar for Alzheimer’s disease, mixed dementia, vascular dementia, and unspecified dementia.

During the two years before being diagnosed with dementia, antidepressant use was elevated, at 15.9% of those later diagnosed with dementia compared to 7.9% of age-matched controls. The higher use of antidepressants . . .