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Major depression more than doubles risk of dementia among adults with diabetes

Both diabetes and clinical depression are known to be risk factors for dementia. Now a study that tracked nearly 4000 diabetics over 5 years has found having both increased the risk 2.7-fold.

Both diabetes and clinical depression are known to be risk factors for dementia. Now a study that tracked nearly 4000 diabetics over 5 years has found having both increased the risk 2.7-fold. Nearly 8% of the diabetics with major depression (36 of 455) developed dementia over the five years, compared to 4.8% of those with diabetes alone (163 of 3382). Those who developed dementia within 2 years of being diagnosed with depression were excluded. Depression is common among people who have diabetes.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/uow-mdm030510.php

Reference

Katon, W., Lin, E., Williams, L., Ciechanowski, P., Heckbert, S., Ludman, E., … Von Korff, M. (2010). Comorbid Depression Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Dementia Diagnosis in Patients with Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 25(5), 423-429. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-1248-6

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