Pavilion Publishing and Media Ltd
Blue Sky Offices Shoreham, 25 Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5FF, UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (0)1273 434 943
Email: [email protected]
People who are diagnosed with early onset dementia are nearly seven times more likely to take their own life, according to new UK study.
The study, which was led by researchers at Queen Mary University and published in Jama Neurology, also found that the risk of suicide increases during the first three months of a dementia diagnosis and for those with known psychiatric comorbidities.
A need for targeted suicide risk assessments for at-risk groups
The study was conducted between January 2001 and December 2019 and was a population-based case-control study. The researchers used data from multiple linked electronic records from primary care, secondary care, and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In total, data from 594,674 people were included in the study. This includes all patients 15 years or older and registered in the ONS in England with a death coded as suicide or open verdict from 2001 to 2019.
Of the entire cohort, 4,940 had a diagnosis of dementia of which 95 (2%) individuals died by suicide. This rate was similar for those without dementia.
However, after accounting for confounding variables, the researchers found that those diagnosed with early onset dementia (before the age of 65) were 6.69 times more likely to die by suicide in the first three months of diagnosis. Once this three-month period had elapsed, the risk dropped to 2.82 times more likely than the general population.
All patients diagnosed with dementia were 2.47 times more likely to die by suicide during the first 3 months after diagnosis, while patients with dementia and psychiatric comorbidity were 1.52 time more likely to die by suicide.
The authors say the study results should prompt diagnostic and management services for dementia (in both primary and secondary care settings) to target suicide risk assessment to the identified high-risk groups.
More work must be done to develop treatments which slow cognitive decline
Dr Susan Mitchell, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “While this study paints a mixed picture about the impact of dementia and suicide risk, it’s worrying to see that those under 65 living with a dementia diagnosis are at an increased risk of suicide.”
Dr Mithell explains that many services are geared towards people aged 65 and over, which can make it very difficult for younger people to receive a diagnosis.
While work is ongoing to develop new drugs that slow cognitive decline, Dr Mitchell says the findings underpin the need for approved treatments that can make a difference to the lives of patients and their families.