In a 2018 analysis of earlier studies into the effects of depression and memory discovered that individuals with at least one symptom of depression self-reported memory problems and other symptoms. Symptoms like sadness and mood changes. Sometimes we use the term “depressed ” loosely to connote sadness or melancholia. But depression is a complex diagnosis that affects many functions, including memory.
It is known that some older people may mistake symptoms of depression as dementia. Depression may cause a person to perform worse on brain function tests over time. An article in the British Journal of Psychiatry indicates that some disorders, including depression, may increase the risk of dementia, particularly if not treated.
Reports of people with depression struggling with particular memories is not uncommon. Depression can affect different types of memories, including autobiographical and declarative memories.
A study conducted in 2013 showed a group of young adults scoring poorly in pattern separation. This is the method the brain uses to encode memories of similar events and other stimuli. When pattern separation is impaired, individuals may become confused when thinking about where they have been, especially if they have visited several similar places.
The findings suggest that depression could reduce the performance of declarative memory, which is the memory of facts and events. The authors of the said study suggest that depression may slow down the creation of nerve cells. This would make it hard for a person to access new memories.
Autobiographical memories, memories that focus on an individual’s life history, can also be affected by people with depression, according to a 2018 study published in Psychological Medicine.Researchers observed that people struggling with depression can over-generalize their autobiographical memories and remember only a little details.
Researchers have also linked depression with different types of memory loss, including impaired short term memories, and memory loss associated with dementia. Some depression medicines could also affect memory, according to the International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal.
Previous research found a clear connection between depression and cognitive performance. People with depression had problems with memory and attention. They also struggled with executive function – skills that help people focus on tasks and pay attention. A 2018 study on people with depression discovered that memory complaints had correlations with more severe symptoms of depression. Another study theorizes that the effects of depression may affect memory even after treatment. This study discovered that individuals with a prior history of depression were more likely to remember negative adjectives from a list than those who had never experienced depression.
It seems there may also be a link between depression and dementia, but scientists have found it difficult to prove. Sometimes, even caregivers and doctors may mistake symptoms of depression such as memory loss as dementia in older people. But, a 2010 analysis indicates that it may not be a mistake. In many cases, cognitive impairments like memory loss that some older people experience with depression could actually be early warning signs of dementia. Researchers state that depression could be an early symptom of an underlying neurodegenerative ailment.
Also, other research shows that people with depression may have a lower volume of gray matter. Gray matter volume declined in areas of the brain associated with working memory and emotion, according to a 2013 paper. People with dementia may also have lower levels of gray matter. This suggests there may be similar structural effects on the brain between dementia and depression, causing some similar symptoms.
Still, another study in 2019 looked at data from the National Child Development Stud, which is a long-term study of children into adulthood. It was discovered that individuals who suffered symptoms of depression in their 20s were more likely to have impaired or delayed memory when they reached their 50s. But, it does not necessarily mean that depression can cause memory loss later in life…there are still a lot of factors to consider.
And yet another research has identified a link between antidepressants and memory loss. Tricyclic antidepressants may increase the risk of memory problems in some individuals. It was found out that people taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) experienced a decline in memory within 8 weeks of treatment. More research is needed to find out if this decline continues or gets better as the body adjusts.
However, it is important to note that there are other causes of memory loss. One should not assume that depression is always the culprit. Infections, and head injuries could affect memory retention as well. Having said that, a person should always consult with a doctor if they experience memory loss…even subtle memory loss could be a start of something more serious. If the doctor thinks it is a problem, he may recommend taking some memory tests. There is also the MRI scan to check for brain injuries, or blood tests to check for infections.
Memory loss is different from person to person. Depression affects a lot of us, but we all react differently. For some, memory loss improves with treatment, or when taking a different antidepressant. When depression is the cause of memory loss, it does not typically get worse. Dementia on the other hand, will worsen memory loss, which will eventually cause other cognitive problems.
If you or a loved one is experiencing memory loss, don’t hesitate to seek medical treatment. It is nothing to be ashamed of or scared. It may just be selective memory loss – like no memory of a drunken binge (which probably caused something embarrassing), or something more serious. There are a lot of options available for treatment, so don’t hesitate. Stay safe and healthy always.
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