Depression is a recognised and clinically significant comorbidity in Alzheimer's disease. Its presence, especially in the earlier stages of the illness, calls for specific management considerations alongside standard dementia care.
Depression occurs commonly in the early course of Alzheimer's disease. Recognising depressed mood in this population is important, as its pattern and significance change across disease stages — with depression more prominent early on, while other neuropsychiatric features tend to emerge later.
A pharmacological approach using a specific class of antidepressant may be considered in this clinical setting, particularly where depressive symptoms are more pronounced.
The complete protocol — including evidence context, clinical considerations, and sequencing — is available via the link below.
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01329-7
Depression is common early on, whereas psychosis is more frequent in the moderate stage, with insomnia and apathy increasing in severe stages.
Clinical trials indicate that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are ineffective for the overall treatment of depression in people with Alzheimer's disease, but clinical experience suggests otherwise, at least in the more severe cases, at the cost of acceleration of cognitive decline.
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