Struggling with concentration or experiencing a dip in self-confidence during middle age may elevate the risk of developing dementia, according to recent research findings. The study, which analyzed data from over 5,800 British participants, identified six depressive symptoms that may serve as “early indicators of underlying neurodegenerative processes.”

The participants provided insights into their health, including mental well-being, as part of the UK Whitehall II study. They were monitored over an average span of 23 years, during which 586 individuals were diagnosed with dementia.

Experts from University College London (UCL) conducted an analysis of the data and pinpointed six depressive symptoms that emerged as strong midlife predictors of an increased risk of dementia.

Among these symptoms, individuals who reported a loss of self-confidence in midlife exhibited a 51% higher risk of developing dementia later on. Those who struggled with “facing up to their problems” faced a 49% greater risk.

•  Losing confidence in myself
• Not able to face up to problems
• Not feeling warmth and affection for others
• Nervous and strung up all the time
• Not satisfied with the way tasks are carried out
• Difficulties concentrating

Additionally, those who indicated a lack of “warmth and affection for others” experienced a 44% increased risk, while feelings of nervousness and being “strung up” were associated with a 34% heightened risk of dementia in the future.

Reporting “not feeling warmth and affection for others” had a 44% raised risk while feeling nervous and “strung up” held a 34% rise in risk of dementia later in life.

Those who were not satisfied with the way tasks are carried out had a 33% increased risk of dementia more than 20 years later, while those who reported difficulties concentrating had a 29% elevated risk.

Study leader Dr Philipp Frank, from the UCL Division of Psychiatry, said: “Our findings show that dementia risk is linked to a handful of depressive symptoms rather than depression as a whole.

“This symptom-level approach gives us a much clearer picture of who may be more vulnerable decades before dementia develops.

“Everyday symptoms that many people experience in midlife appear to carry important information about long-term brain health.

“Paying attention to these patterns could open new opportunities for early prevention.”

Professor Mika Kivimaki, from the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, who leads the Whitehall II study and co-authored the paper, said: “Depression doesn’t have a single shape — symptoms vary widely and often overlap with anxiety.

“We found that these nuanced patterns can reveal who is at higher risk of developing neurological disorders.”

Commenting on the paper, Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The connection between dementia and depression is complicated. It’s encouraging to see this new observational study begin to unpick how dementia and depression are interlinked.

“However, more research is needed to confirm whether these six symptoms also apply to women and ethnic minorities.

“It’s important to note that not everyone who has depression will go on to develop dementia, and people with dementia won’t necessarily develop depression.”

The findings were published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry.