People with recent dementia diagnosis found to have higher suicide risk

‘It’s possible to find ways of maintaining quality of life that is acceptable to you after a diagnosis of dementia,’ said a co-author of the research. Photograph: shapecharge/Getty Images

People who have recently been diagnosed with dementia, or who are diagnosed with the condition at a younger age, are among those at increased risk of suicide, researchers have found. The findings have prompted calls for greater support for those experiencing such cognitive decline.

While previous research has explored a potential link between dementia diagnosis and suicide risk, the results have been inconclusive, with some suggesting a raised risk and others a reduced risk.