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Association of life‐course depression with the risk of dementia in late life: A nationwide twin study
Author(s) -
Yang Wenzhe,
Li Xuerui,
Pan KuanYu,
Yang Rongrong,
Song Ruixue,
Qi Xiuying,
Pedersen Nancy L.,
Xu Weili
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.12303
Subject(s) - gee , dementia , depression (economics) , odds ratio , logistic regression , confidence interval , generalized estimating equation , psychology , association (psychology) , life course approach , structural equation modeling , late life depression , medicine , demography , gerontology , psychiatry , cognition , disease , developmental psychology , statistics , economics , psychotherapist , macroeconomics , mathematics , sociology
Whether depression is a prodromal phase or risk factor for dementia is under debate. We aimed to unveil the nature of depression–dementia association by looking into the time window of depression occurrence. Methods Dementia‐free twins ( n = 41,727) from the Swedish Twin Registry were followed‐up for 18 years. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE) for all individuals and conditional logistic regression for co‐twin matched pairs. Results In the GEE model, multi‐adjusted odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of dementia were 1.46 (1.09–1.95) for mid‐life, 2.16 (1.82–2.56) for late‐life, 2.24 (1.49–3.36) for mid‐ to late‐life, and 2.65 (1.17–5.98) for lifelong depression. The ORs in conditional logistic regression and in GEE did not differ significantly ( P = 0.60). Education ≥8 years attenuated dementia risk associated with mid‐life depression. Discussion Not only late‐life depression, but also mid‐life depression is associated with dementia. Genetic and early‐life environmental factors could not account for this association. Education ≥8 years might buffer the impact of mid‐life depression on dementia.