A recent study published in the journal BMC Medicine has found that dementia patients who took antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), experienced faster declines in their thinking ability. The 11-year study of 18,740 dementia patients in Sweden showed a correlation between SSRI prescriptions and more rapid decline in memory and cognitive function.
However, researchers caution that the findings may be due to underlying depression rather than the antidepressants themselves. Dr. Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer’s Society states that further research is needed to understand the effects of antidepressants on dementia patients.
The study’s authors highlight the importance of regular medication reviews for patients with dementia, particularly when prescribing antidepressants. They also recommend recording the severity of an individual’s dementia on their primary care records, as those with more severe dementia were found to be at a higher risk of cognitive decline.
While the study has limitations, including not fully accounting for depression severity and potential “channelling bias,” it suggests that SSRIs may speed up cognitive decline in dementia patients. The findings emphasize the need for caution when interpreting the results and highlight the importance of further research to understand the effects of antidepressants on dementia patients.
Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/shock-dementia-study-shows-antidepressants-34740296