Depression and Low Magnesium Greatly Increase Dementia Risk After COVID in Older Adults
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 15, 2025 2 hours, 55 minutes ago
Thailand Medical News: A Hidden Post COVID Risk in the Elderly
A new study from researchers at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), the University of Colima, the State Cancerology Institute of Colima, and Florida International University warns that depression and low magnesium levels could dramatically increase the chances of developing dementia-like cognitive decline in older adults after COVID-19. Conducted between June 2023 and March 2024, the research followed adults aged 65 and older for six months, comparing those who had recently recovered from COVID-19 with uninfected peers.
Depression and Low Magnesium Greatly Increase Dementia Risk After COVID in Older Adults
The results are striking — this
Thailand Medical news report found that while COVID-19 alone can contribute to memory loss and “brain fog,” the risk soars when combined with depression and a magnesium deficiency. In fact, older adults with all three factors were over 40 times more likely to develop measurable cognitive impairment within six months compared to those without them.
Tracking Cognitive Decline
The study involved 111 older adults who were mentally healthy at the start. Cognitive ability was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination, while depression, anxiety, and insomnia were screened with validated tools. Blood tests checked magnesium, calcium, and other key electrolytes. By the end of the follow-up, nearly one in five participants showed cognitive decline.
Low magnesium levels were found in 40% of those with impairment compared to just 11% of those without. Depression was present in 60% of affected individuals, versus 14% in the healthy group. While factors like anxiety, insomnia, and low calcium were also linked to impairment in early analysis, only depression and magnesium deficiency remained independent predictors after statistical adjustments.
Why Magnesium Matters for the Brain
Magnesium plays a critical role in brain health — it regulates nerve signaling, supports memory formation, and helps prevent excessive brain inflammation. Low levels are common in the elderly due to dietary gaps, medication use, and age-related changes. The study suggests that magnesium deficiency could amplify COVID-19’s inflammatory effects on the brain, making cognitive decline more likely.
The Dangerous Trio
The most alarming finding was the “triple hit” effect. COVID-19 survivors with both depression and low magnesium had a staggering 44-fold increased risk of developing cognitive impairment compared to those with none of these factors. This suggests that the virus alone is not the only culprit — psychological health and nutritional balance are equally important in determining brain outcomes after infection.
Implications for Prevention
These findings highlight the need for routine mental health screening and magnesium checks in older COVID-19 pat
ients. Addressing depression through counseling or treatment, and correcting magnesium deficiency through diet or supplements, could offer a practical way to lower dementia risk. Given the simplicity of magnesium testing and supplementation, this could be an accessible intervention worldwide.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Medical Sciences 2025.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3271/13/3/114
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