Long-term depression in over-50s could double stroke risk, study finds

US study of more than 16,000 people suggests damage is done by depressive symptoms accumulating over time

Long-term depression in people over 50 could more than double their risk of suffering a stroke, with the risk remaining significantly higher even after the depression allays, research suggests.

The US study of more than 16,000 people, which documented 1,192 strokes, found that onset of recent depression was not associated with higher stroke risk, suggesting the damage is done by depressive symptoms accumulating over time.