Social Anxiety Support

TorLin · 08-26-2009, 06:04 AM

Depressed People With Memory Problems Are More Likely to Develop Alzheimer’s Disease

source http://mychannelnews.info/alzheimers...imers-disease/

Researchers working at UCLA have published a new study in which they suggest that people with memory problems who are depressed are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than others. They did also found however that the widely used Alzheimer’s drug donepezil may be useful in helping to delay the progression of the disease in those individuals with mild cognitive impairment or memory difficulties.

Mild cognitive impairment is defined as the stage between the cognitive decline that comes naturally with aging and Alzheimer’s disease. These people experience memory problems that are usually greater than might be expected with normal aging but do not show any other symptoms of Alzheimer’s such as a difficulty in completing basic daily tasks.

Over the course of three years 756 people between the ages of 55 and 91 who had been diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment were followed and monitored by the researchers. Out of the study’s total participants 208 were also diagnosed as depressed , using a standard test that measures the severity and intensity of depression in an individual. For each single point increase on the test researchers found that the participants risk for developing full blown Alzheimer’s disease went up by 3 percent.

“Our longer-term findings add to the body of evidence that suggests depression is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Po H. Lu, an assistant professor of neurology and a member of the UCLA Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research. “Since the drug donepezil has been shown to improve the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, our study also tested whether the drug would delay the progression to Alzheimer’s disease in people with memory problems.”

Study participants were divided into three groups. They were either then given donepezil, a Vitamin E supplement or a harmless placebo pill. Amongst the depressed participants in the group that was taking the donepezil 11 percent developed Alzheimer’s at 1.7 years in comparison to the 25 percent of those taking either the vitamin E or the placebo pill.

When accessed at 2.2 years 14 perecent of the depressed donepezil group had been diagnosed with the disease while the figure was 29 percent in the other groups. For those who had not been diagnosed as depressed at the start of the study, donepezil seemed to have little effect.

The drug has yet to be approved by the FDA for treating mild cognitive impairment. It is currently indicated only for use in Alzheimer’s patients with mild to moderate and severe disease.

However the researchers were buoyed by their findings “If we can delay the progression of this disease for even two years, it could significantly improve the quality of life for many people dealing with memory loss,” Lu said.

Chemical Imbalance · 08-26-2009, 11:42 AM

I've always wondered about this myself.

I'm clinically depressed and I've always had very poor memory.

It honestly worries me.

anonymid · 08-26-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chemical Imbalance

I'm clinically depressed and I've always had very poor memory.

Me too (depression + ADHD). One more thing for me to worry about, I guess.

Happ2beme · 08-28-2009, 04:39 AM

Wow, informative article Torlin. Thanks robb

EagerMinnow84 · 08-29-2009, 06:21 PM

I have depression but I have excellent memory.

It scares me sometimes.

AudreyHepburn · 08-29-2009, 06:32 PM

I have a great memory. Sometimes I really wish I didn't...

nobodyuknow · 09-01-2009, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagerMinnow84

I have depression but I have excellent memory.

It scares me sometimes.

Same here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudreyHepburn

I have a great memory. Sometimes I really wish I didn't...

Me too.

They don't say if they mean long-term or short-term memory, if it makes a difference. I have a very good long-term memory, but I won't remember something I was supposed to do or was told five minutes ago. But then I remember little insignificant details about things that nobody else even notices, and when I am anxious I will take everything in and not even realize how much I remember till later -- like my brain has to process it first.

This is really interesting, but also kind of scary -- my grandma had Alzheimer's...

bowlingpins · 09-03-2009, 02:42 PM

The donepezil mentioned has an OTC counterpart called Huperzine. it is a herb, works just like donepezil and likely would protect from Alzheimer's the same way donepezil does. Besides, its dirt cheap.

dazdnconfusd · 09-26-2009, 07:47 AM

Do alot of people with depression have memory problems.I've had a bad memory all my life people tell me something or I read it and I instantly can't remember it.

LaRibbon · 10-25-2009, 07:23 AM

^ Similiar problem

I'm always depressed, and I used to have an excellent memory, to the point where I've astonished people with my recollections. But this past year, my memory (particularly short-term) has become terrible...

Kush · 10-30-2009, 01:00 AM

o great ive got so much 2 look forward 2 in the future!!! i get to have sa and alzheimers what a combo!!

mind_games · 10-30-2009, 01:17 AM

high5 Kush!

chibimarukochan · 10-30-2009, 02:55 PM

maybe i'll get it one day. i'm so looking forward!
well i have poor memory when it comes to learning, i think. :\ but i remember a lot of stupid little trivial things people say that don't even matter.

epril · 10-30-2009, 07:33 PM

My short and long term memory are awful. Ex. I can't remember movie plots I saw a few days ago, I can't remember a lot of conversations, I can't remember what someone said to me a minute ago when I'm feeling anxious, and I have very few memories from childhood.

Phoenix87 · 11-02-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epril

My short and long term memory are awful. Ex. I can't remember movie plots I saw a few days ago, I can't remember a lot of conversations, I can't remember what someone said to me a minute ago when I'm feeling anxious, and I have very few memories from childhood.

I'm the same way, only it takes me a while to call up memories. Childhood memories come back to me if I sort of meditate on it. There's a method to it, but I can't put it into words.

I find the more I feel depressed, the less I remember. That's for sure.

08-26-2009, 06:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
TorLin Status: MayTheForceBeWithYou Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Gender: Male Posts: 17,056	Depressed People With Memory Problems Are More Likely to Develop Alzheimer’s Disease Depressed People With Memory Problems Are More Likely to Develop Alzheimer’s Disease source http://mychannelnews.info/alzheimers...imers-disease/ Researchers working at UCLA have published a new study in which they suggest that people with memory problems who are depressed are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than others. They did also found however that the widely used Alzheimer’s drug donepezil may be useful in helping to delay the progression of the disease in those individuals with mild cognitive impairment or memory difficulties. Mild cognitive impairment is defined as the stage between the cognitive decline that comes naturally with aging and Alzheimer’s disease. These people experience memory problems that are usually greater than might be expected with normal aging but do not show any other symptoms of Alzheimer’s such as a difficulty in completing basic daily tasks. Over the course of three years 756 people between the ages of 55 and 91 who had been diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment were followed and monitored by the researchers. Out of the study’s total participants 208 were also diagnosed as depressed , using a standard test that measures the severity and intensity of depression in an individual. For each single point increase on the test researchers found that the participants risk for developing full blown Alzheimer’s disease went up by 3 percent. “Our longer-term findings add to the body of evidence that suggests depression is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Po H. Lu, an assistant professor of neurology and a member of the UCLA Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research. “Since the drug donepezil has been shown to improve the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, our study also tested whether the drug would delay the progression to Alzheimer’s disease in people with memory problems.” Study participants were divided into three groups. They were either then given donepezil, a Vitamin E supplement or a harmless placebo pill. Amongst the depressed participants in the group that was taking the donepezil 11 percent developed Alzheimer’s at 1.7 years in comparison to the 25 percent of those taking either the vitamin E or the placebo pill. When accessed at 2.2 years 14 perecent of the depressed donepezil group had been diagnosed with the disease while the figure was 29 percent in the other groups. For those who had not been diagnosed as depressed at the start of the study, donepezil seemed to have little effect. The drug has yet to be approved by the FDA for treating mild cognitive impairment. It is currently indicated only for use in Alzheimer’s patients with mild to moderate and severe disease. However the researchers were buoyed by their findings “If we can delay the progression of this disease for even two years, it could significantly improve the quality of life for many people dealing with memory loss,” Lu said. __________________ MTFBWU (May The Force Be With You) - TORLIN AIM, MSN, YIM: T0RL1N Skype: Tor_Lin Visit me at; ToryLing.com \| LivingAnxious \| Facebook \| Myspace \| Last.fm

08-26-2009, 11:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chemical Imbalance Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 15	I've always wondered about this myself. I'm clinically depressed and I've always had very poor memory. It honestly worries me. __________________ Want your computer to actually be yours?

08-28-2009, 04:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Happ2beme Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Yucaipa, California Gender: Male Age: 45 Posts: 241	Wow, informative article Torlin. Thanks robb __________________ Edward Scissorhands. You give the quote "nothing is what it seems" its real meaning! You deserve more than you get, but it takes time and effort knowing you for people to understand they have the real deal here. You are totally original although too idealistic, which makes it difficult for you to be understood...

08-29-2009, 06:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
EagerMinnow84 Status: Living in Technicolor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dancing with Gene Kelly Gender: Female Posts: 1,189	I have depression but I have excellent memory. It scares me sometimes. __________________ I don't know, I kind of like him. He's the exact opposite of everything I really hate. In a way, he's such a clueless dork, he's almost kind of cool

10-30-2009, 01:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
mind_games Status: dances, like a fridge Join Date: Nov 2008 Age: 23 Posts: 1,563	high5 Kush! __________________ "this is not me, this is me reacting to your perception of me"

09-03-2009, 02:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
bowlingpins Status: Temporarily Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 557	The donepezil mentioned has an OTC counterpart called Huperzine. it is a herb, works just like donepezil and likely would protect from Alzheimer's the same way donepezil does. Besides, its dirt cheap.

09-26-2009, 07:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
dazdnconfusd Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NY Gender: Male Age: 42 Posts: 12	Do alot of people with depression have memory problems.I've had a bad memory all my life people tell me something or I read it and I instantly can't remember it.

10-25-2009, 07:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
LaRibbon Status: Temporarily Banned Join Date: May 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 487	^ Similiar problem I'm always depressed, and I used to have an excellent memory, to the point where I've astonished people with my recollections. But this past year, my memory (particularly short-term) has become terrible...

10-30-2009, 01:00 AM	#11 (permalink)
Kush Status: Insomnia Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Illinois Gender: Male Age: 19 Posts: 276	o great ive got so much 2 look forward 2 in the future!!! i get to have sa and alzheimers what a combo!!

10-30-2009, 02:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
chibimarukochan Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: In the dumps Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 12	maybe i'll get it one day. i'm so looking forward! well i have poor memory when it comes to learning, i think. :\ but i remember a lot of stupid little trivial things people say that don't even matter.

10-30-2009, 07:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
epril Status: sa challenger Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: arizona Gender: Female Age: 45 Posts: 2,646	My short and long term memory are awful. Ex. I can't remember movie plots I saw a few days ago, I can't remember a lot of conversations, I can't remember what someone said to me a minute ago when I'm feeling anxious, and I have very few memories from childhood. __________________ "Nobody's ever asked me to a party before, as a friend! Is that why you dyed your eyebrow, for the party? Should I do mine, too?"