More News on the Relationship Between Alzheimer's and Depression

Contributed by: Dennis Fortier, President, Medical Care Corporation
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A study published in the June 16 issue of Neurology, the journal of the National Academy of Neurology, suggests that people with memory loss who are also depressed have a greater likelihood of getting Alzheimer's disease (AD).

In a three year study of 756 subjects aged 55 to 91, those diagnosed with depression and memory loss developed AD at a higher rate than those with memory loss and no depression.

The study also had some good news about Aricept, a cholinesterase inhibitor commonly used to treat AD. Among a group of subjects with both memory loss and depression, 11% of those given Aricept developed AD during the study while 25% of those not given Aricept developed AD.

This finding suggests that Aricept may have slowed the progression of Alzheimer's pathology and prolonged high quality of life. This bodes well for our ongoing ability to treat AD in a more effective manner.

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