Antidepressant use in relation to long‐term dementia risk and imaging markers of neurodegeneration: a population‐based study of potential adverse effects

In Europe, one in five adults uses antidepressants, with an increase in prescriptions of 20% per year. It has been suggested that antidepressant use might ultimately lead to adverse cognitive outcomes due to their anticholinergic properties. However, this impact remains largely undetermined, as randomised trials have limited follow‐up duration. We aimed to determine the association between antidepressant use and the long‐term risk of dementia in a population‐setting. In addition, we assessed the effect of antidepressant use on change in brain volume as measured with MRI.