PhD defence E.M. (Ilse) vom Hofe

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation: 

Dementia is one of the leading causes of death and disability among older adults worldwide. It is a multifactorial condition, with various factors contributing to its development. Recent research suggests that mental health problems during adulthood, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, are related to increased risk of dementia. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. It is hypothesized that the use of medication to treat mental health symptoms may play an important role. It is known that psychotropic medications can have acute adverse effects on the brain, but their long-term impact is still unclear. This thesis examined whether commonly used medications for mental health conditions, specifically antidepressants and benzodiazepines, are associated with long-term effects on the brain, including an increased risk of dementia. In addition, the relationship between anti-inflammatory medication use and dementia risk was investigated. The findings show that long-term use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines is not associated with an increased risk of dementia. In contrast, prolonged use of anti-inflammatory drugs was linked to a reduced risk of developing dementia. These results offer reassurance regarding safe prescription of antidepressants and benzodiazepines in cognitively healthy individuals with respect to brain health. Furthermore, the findings suggest that sustained suppression of inflammatory processes may be promising in dementia prevention.