health
Risk of dementia increases for depressed diabetic patients
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 12, 2011
Depressed patients with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing dementia compared with people with diabetes alone, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in Archives of General Psychiatry.
Between May 2005 and December 2006, researchers surveyed 19,239 people, ages 30 to 75, who were part of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Diabetes Registry. Overall, 1.2% of participants developed dementia during the follow-up period. Dementia was more common in patients with depression, data show.
Among the 3,766 diabetic participants with depression, 2.1% developed dementia during follow-up. Among the 15,473 people with diabetes alone, 1% had dementia.
The study authors said the findings indicate the importance of physicians screening diabetic patients for early signs of depression to prevent the possible development of dementia in the future (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/12/12/hlbf1212.htm.
