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Recurrent depressive symptoms and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment
Dotson VM, Beydoun MA, Zonderman AB.. Neurology, 2010-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective A history of depression has been linked to an increased dementia risk. This risk may be particularly high in recurrent depression due to repeated brain insult. We investigated whether there is a dose-dependent relationship between the number of episodes of elevated depressive symptoms (EDS) and the risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Methods A total of 1,239 older adults from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging were followed for a median of 24.7 years. Diagnoses of MCI and dementia were made based on prospective data. Participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale at 1- to 2-year intervals and were considered to have an EDS if their score was > or = 16. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test for trend for survivor functions, and Cox proportional hazards models were conducted to examine the risk of MCI and dementia by number of EDS. Results We observed a monotonic increase in risk for all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease as a function of the number of EDS. Each episode was associated with a 14% increase in risk for all-cause dementia. Having 1 EDS conferred an 87%-92% increase in dementia risk, while having 2 or more episodes nearly doubled the risk. Recurrence of EDS did not increase the risk of incident MCI. Conclusions Our findings support the hypothesis that depression is a risk factor for dementia and suggest that recurrent depression is particularly pernicious. Preventing the recurrence of depression in older adults may prevent or delay the onset of dementia.
Key findings
- Results We observed a monotonic increase in risk for all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease as a function of the number of EDS.
- Each episode was associated with a 14% increase in risk for all-cause dementia.
- Conclusions Our findings support the hypothesis that depression is a risk factor for dementia and suggest that recurrent depression is particularly pernicious.
Why it matters
In this longitudinal study, a monotonic increase in risk for all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease was observed as a function of the number of episodes of elevated depressive symptoms, with each episode associated with a 14% increase in risk. Recurrence of elevated depressive symptoms did not increase the risk of incident mild cognitive impairment.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,239
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 70/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,239 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 387 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.5 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 22 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 57 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Alan B. Zonderman: h-index 119 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | National Institutes of Health: institution h-index 2,723 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20603482) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 70 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e62124
- PubMed: 20603482
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Dotson, V. M., Beydoun, M. A., & Zonderman, A. B. (2010). Recurrent depressive symptoms and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e62124
Vancouver
Dotson VM, Beydoun MA, Zonderman AB. Recurrent depressive symptoms and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Neurology. 2010. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e62124. PMID: 20603482.
BibTeX
@article{dotson2010-20603482,
author = {Dotson, V. M. and Beydoun, M. A. and Zonderman, A. B.},
title = {{Recurrent depressive symptoms and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e62124},
pmid = {20603482},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e62124}
}
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