Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor • October 2020 • From the editor

Recently there’s been so much new research coming out about dementia and interesting ways the disease is interconnected with other health issues. While our cover story this month is speaking specifically to a connection between diabetes and dementia, depression is the other “D” word that should also pique your interest. Both depression and dementia are reaching epidemic proportions (exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic).

Donald Weaver, professor of chemistry and Director of Krembil Research Institute at the University of Toronto recently wrote about the connection between dementia and depression, saying that depsite their obvious differences, “it is becoming ever more apparent that depression and dementia may be two sides of the same coin. People with dementia often have depression; if the depression remains untreated, the associated memory and cognitive problems worsen. Conversely, a significant history of depression seems to be a risk factor for dementia; the two disorders may thus co-exist in a vicious self-sustaining cycle.”

Making matters worse are the overlapping symptoms. Dementia and depression can mimic each other – with depression being misdiagnosed as dementia and vice versa. Weaver says: “Early dementia symptoms include memory problems (particularly remembering recent events), increasing confusion, behaviour changes, apathy, social withdrawal and inability to do everyday tasks. Many of these symptoms are shared with depression, in which patients experience sleep disturbances, lack of energy (so even small tasks take extra effort), anxiety, restlessness and problems with thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things.”

Speaking of mental health: on page 16, Dr. Chris Oswald and company speak to the mental health issues they have seen in their teen patient population – very difficult years in any case. But again, with COVID-19 triggering more anxiety and depression among many patients despite their age ranges, I’m sure these issues are something DCs and NDs will be seeing more of in the future – if not already. It’s still as important as ever to keep our communication open, and allow your peers to share concerns – not only of their patients, but of each other, too. Please, don’t forget to keep your own mental health in check.