Decreasing hazards of Alzheimers disease with the use of antidepressants: mitigating the risk of depression and apolipoprotein E

摘要

ObjectiveAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, manifesting in clinically observable deficits in memory, thinking, and behavior that disproportionately affects older adults. Susceptibility genes, such as apolipoprotein ε4, have long been associated with an increased risk of AD diagnosis. Studies have shown associations between depression and increased risk of AD development. Furthermore, findings from previous investigations suggest mixed effects in the use of psychotropic medication in older adults. The hypothesis for this study is that antidepressant use modifies the increased hazard of depression or such that a non-significant hazard will result with respect to eventual AD development.