A case-control study in England showed that the suicidal risk was higher in people recently diagnosed with dementia, especially younger patients. 

The study published in JAMA Neurology reported that for people under the age of 65, the suicide risk within 3 months of diagnosis was 6.69 times (95% CI 1.49-30.12) higher than in patients without dementia. Suicides increased in people who received a dementia diagnosis in the past 3 months compared to people who didn′t have dementia (adjusted OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.49-4.09).

The risk of suicide increased among patients following an Alzheimer′s or dementia diagnosis, peaking in the age group of 65 to 74 and the first 90 days following the diagnosis. The researchers examined the records of 594,674 individuals, of whom 14,515 committed suicide and 580,159 were controls (median age at death: 81.6 years; 50%: male). It was observed that mostly men committed suicide among dementia patients. The risk of suicide persisted after diagnosis for younger dementia patients (adjusted OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.84-4.33). Additionally, people with psychiatric comorbidities had a 1.52 times higher risk of suicide (95% CI 1.21-1.90) at any time and at any age.

A major healthcare objective is expanding access to dementia diagnoses. The study demonstrates the need to make sure agencies have the capacity to offer suitable care following a dementia diagnosis.

(Source: https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/dementia/101017)