Daijiworld Media Network - London

London, Jan 3: Older adults who are both physically frail and living with depression face a significantly higher risk of developing dementia, with the combined impact of the two conditions accounting for about 17 per cent of overall dementia risk, according to a new study.

The findings, published in the open-access journal General Psychiatry, show that while frailty and depression independently increase dementia risk, having both conditions makes an individual more than three times as likely to develop dementia compared to older adults in good physical and mental health.

Researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine, along with international collaborators, analysed data from over 200,000 older adults in the US and the UK, including participants from the UK Biobank. The participants were followed for a median period of around 13 years, during which 9,088 cases of dementia were recorded.

The analysis revealed that frail individuals were more than 2.5 times as likely to be diagnosed with dementia, while those with depression alone had nearly a 60 per cent higher risk. Participants suffering from both frailty and depression had the highest risk, with a pooled hazard ratio of about 3.2.

Statistical modelling showed a significant interaction between the two factors, with around 17.1 per cent of dementia risk attributable specifically to their combined effect. Researchers noted that at lower levels, physical resilience may help offset the cognitive impact of depression and vice versa, but once both conditions worsen beyond a certain point, the risk of dementia rises sharply.

The authors said the findings underline the close links between physical health, mental wellbeing and cognitive decline. They called for routine screening for frailty and depression in older adults and recommended targeted interventions to improve strength, mobility and mental health as part of geriatric and primary care to help reduce dementia risk.