A recent Swedish national cohort study has found that antidepressant medications are associated with faster rates of cognitive decline in patients with dementia. The study, which evaluated nearly 19,000 participants, revealed that people prescribed antidepressants had a significant drop in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores compared to those not prescribed an antidepressant.
The study, led by Dr. Sara Garcia-Ptacek, found that Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as escitalopram and citalopram, were linked to faster cognitive decline. However, the researchers noted that not all antidepressants had a negative impact on cognition.
“The association appeared to be more pronounced in people with severe dementia,” Dr. Garcia-Ptacek said. “We found that antidepressants were associated with worse cognitive decline, but not all antidepressants were equal.”
The study’s findings suggest that healthcare providers may need to consider the potential effects of antidepressant medications on cognition when prescribing them to patients with dementia.
Key takeaways from the study include:
* Antidepressant medications are linked to faster rates of cognitive decline in patients with dementia
* SSRIs, such as escitalopram and citalopram, were associated with significant cognitive decline
* The association was more pronounced in people with severe dementia
* Not all antidepressants had a negative impact on cognition
The study’s limitations include the potential for confounding by indication, which may be due to depression rather than the antidepressant medication itself. Further research is needed to investigate these findings and determine whether antidepressants are causing cognitive decline or if other factors are at play.
Source: BMC Medicine (2025)
Source: https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/114355