Depression in early adulthood can cause dementia; women more vulnerable: Study

A new study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has revealed that unhappiness and depression in early adulthood can cause considerable damage to cognitive performance later in life. As per a report by Medical Xpress, adults may experience cognition decline and eventually develop dementia and Alzheimer's-like disease just 10 years after they first encounter depression in early adulthood. 

Excessive stress hormone release deemed root cause

According to the UCSF experts, excess secretion of stress hormones such as glucocorticoids can cause considerable damage to the cognitive response of a person. This hormone is produced due to hyperactivity of the central stress response system that can damage the brain's hippocampus, the area associated with forming, organizing and storing new memories, reported Medical Xpress.

Nearly 15,000 participants aged between 20 to 89 were subjects of the research that used statistical methods to determine the extent of depression in these individuals. The participants were reportedly divided into three categories- older, midlife and young adulthood, and surprisingly 73% of the volunteers were found to be vulnerable to cognitive impairment owing to their depressive symptoms in early adulthood. Besides, those having depressive symptoms in old age were predicted to be 43% more exposed to the same. 

Women more prone to hippocampus atrophy

Women have been observed to be more vulnerable to depression and cognitive decline as a result of atrophy of the hippocampus. As per earlier studies, shrinking of the brain's memory storing area is faster and more visible in females. Apart from this, the UCSF experts warned that taking care of mental health during early adulthood is extremely essential as a significant drop in brainpower has been reported just 10 years from the onset of depressive symptoms. 

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