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Depression is associated with poor health outcomes in older adults

In a sample of >19,000 older adults, the presence of depressive symptoms was associated with adverse medical outcomes over five years, including persistent physical disability, cancer and major bleeding episodes. Certain depression trajectories were associated with distinct health conditions. Systematic assessment of depressive symptoms may facilitate early identification of at-risk populations.

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Fig. 1: Trajectory of depressive symptoms in older adults over five years.

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This is a summary of: Agustini, B. et al. Trajectories of depressive symptoms in older adults and associated health outcomes. Nat. Aging https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-022-00203-1 (2022).

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Depression is associated with poor health outcomes in older adults. Nat Aging 2, 287–288 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-022-00207-x

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