Antidepressants, Social Engagement and Depressive Symptoms in Persons with Dementia

What is it about?

At the time of meeting criteria for dementia, a larger reported social network or less feeling of social isolation was associated with less report of depressive symptoms. No association was found between use of antidepressant medications and level of depressive symptoms.

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Why is it important?

While preliminary and in need of replication, these results point to social engagement status rather than antidepressant medication use being more important in understanding depressive symptoms when persons first meet the criteria for a diagnosis of dementia.