HHS HealthBeat (September 3, 2010)

Depression, apathy and dementia

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A study indicates people with mild cognitive impairment – diminished thinking ability – and apathy or depression are more likely to develop dementia.

Yonas Geda of the Mayo Clinic saw this in data on close to 360 people with mild cognitive impairment, who answered questions about depression and apathy. He found a 66 percent increased risk of dementia for people with MCI and depression and almost a doubling of risk for people with MCI and apathy.

"Perhaps treating that may delay the progression from MCI to dementia. So in that case, it’s really a very important finding." (8 seconds)

The study presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 21, 2011