Exciting Research Helps Distinguish Depression and Dementia

depression dementia

Neuroimaging of decreased blood flow in specific regions of the brain can differentiate between depression and cognitive disorders.

Does a patient have depression or a cognitive disorder (CD) such as Alzheimer’s disease or both? Since both disorders have overlapping symptoms, how can a clinician tell them apart to make the appropriate diagnosis? In an article published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers have found that single photon emission computed tomography or SPECT, can help to distinguish between these diagnostic categories.

Comparison of Both Dementia and Depression Patients


They also found that SPECT could distinguish depression from CDs with 86% accuracy. Also, brain SPECT imaging showed the ability to identify depression or dementia in people with both with 83% accuracy.


The Breakdown


Traditionally, depression can be diagnosed using tools such as the Beck Depression Inventory, the most widely used psychometric test for measuring the level of depression. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the burden of depression symptoms on this inventory between individuals with both depression and CDs compared to persons with either condition. This increases the difficulty of distinguishing these disorders on the basis of depression symptom severity alone.


If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or depression, Amen Clinics can help. We will help you learn more about your brain and assist with early diagnosis and intervention. Call us today at (888) 288-9834 or visit our website to schedule a visit.

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