Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
A diagnosis of dementia more than doubles the risk of suicide in the first three months after a patient is told the news, according to the latest research.
The study, which followed nearly 600,000 English people for 18 years, found patients who already had a psychiatric condition, or who were younger than age 65 at the time of diagnosis, were at a similar risk. The risk was highest during the first three months after learning the news for people younger than 65: They were 6.5 times more likely to die by suicide.
"A dementia diagnosis can be devastating, but the immediate period after diagnosis is often the period of greatest distress," said lead study author Dr. Charles Marshall, clinical senior lecturer and honourary consultant neurologist at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health at Queen Mary University of London.
"Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer's at an early age is rare, unexpected and overwhelming, making it very difficult to accept," said Beth Kallmyer, vice president of care and support for the Alzheimer's Association, who was not involved in the study.
"One of the most important things you could tell someone facing an Alzheimer's diagnosis is that they are not alone and support is available," she said.
Prior research has established a distinct connection between dementia and suicide, including a 2021 study by Yale University scientists. "Adults over the age of 65 who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease were twice as likely to die from suicide than older adults who did not suffer from dementia," Kallmyer said.
Most cases of dementia are in the elderly, but chronic conditions and behavioural choices can play a role, according to Kallmyer. "Obesity, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles in younger people are rising quickly, and these are risk factors for dementia," she said.
In the new study, published Monday in the journal JAMA Neurology, the actual number of people — 95 patients — who died by suicide after finding out they had dementia was small. However, that did not diminish the study's value in identifying the most vulnerable subgroups and three-month timing, Marshall said.
Past studies have also found a relationship between a diagnosis of dementia and suicide in people diagnosed at an earlier age. While the new study was unable to determine why this would be so, Marshall pointed to the interpersonal theory of suicide as a possible answer.
"Perceived burdensomeness is a critical pillar for suicidal behaviour," Marshall said. "That perception of burdensomeness may be higher in younger patients with dementia who are more likely to be in their work-productive years as well as have family-caring responsibilities."
Results from studies like these suggest that physicians should conduct a "robust risk assessment" for signs of suicide at the time of diagnosis, Marshall and his coauthors wrote in the latest study.
"We know that early Alzheimer's disease can cause low mood, anxiety and social isolation. These symptoms might be both causes and signs of suicide risk," Marshall said in an email.
Becoming educated about dementia "and in particular, younger onset Alzheimer's disease, is an important first step in supporting someone who receives a younger onset diagnosis," Kallmyer said.
Health and financial plans should be put in place early so that the person living with dementia can participate in those decisions, she suggested.
"If the person is still working, it's critical that they investigate employment benefits that could help them — and it's essential that they do this before they leave their jobs. Employer benefits might include short- and long-term disability insurance, which can be very helpful while they are applying for Social Security disability," Kallmyer said.
Signs of depression and suicidal warning signs mimic those of dementia, making it extremely difficult for caregivers, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
"Because of the complexities involved with diagnosing depression with dementia, it may be helpful to consult a geriatric psychiatrist who specializes in recognizing, diagnosing, and treating depression in older adults," the association noted.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (or 988 beginning July 16, 2022) or Canada's Talk Suicide 1-833-456-4566. The following resources are also available to support people in crisis:
Hope for Wellness Helpline: (English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut): 1-855-242-3310
Embrace Life Council hotline: 1-800-265-3333
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
H5N1 or avian flu has been detected at dozens of US dairy farms and Canadian experts are urging surveillance on our side of the border too.
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
A 49-year-old man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that happened earlier this week in Dartmouth, N.S.
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Nathaly Paola Castro Torres has a rare disorder called Laron syndrome that is caused by a genetic mutation. It stunts her growth but also provides a hidden silver lining: Her body is protected from chronic diseases such as cancer that often take life away long before old age.
Canadian baseball player Tyler Black made a major splash in his first-ever big league game for the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Guitarist Duane Eddy, best known for twangy riffs on hits such as 'Rebel Rouser' and 'Cannonball,' has died at the age of 86.
A group of SaskPower workers recently received special recognition at the legislature – for their efforts in repairing one of Saskatchewan's largest power plants after it was knocked offline for months following a serious flood last summer.
A police officer on Montreal's South Shore anonymously donated a kidney that wound up drastically changing the life of a schoolteacher living on dialysis.
Since 1932, Montreal's Henri Henri has been filled to the brim with every possible kind of hat, from newsboy caps to feathered fedoras.
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.