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Dementia patients have higher risk of suicide in first 3 months after diagnosis, 18-year study finds

Dementia patients have higher risk of suicide in first 3 months after diagnosis,

A recent study has found that patients diagnosed with dementia are twice as likely to commit suicide in the first three months.

The study, conducted in England, followed nearly 600,000 English people for 18 years and found that patients who had a psychiatric condition or who were younger than 65 had a higher risk. They were 6.5 times more likely to die by suicide.

"Getting an Alzheimer's diagnosis at an early age is rare, sudden and overwhelming, and makes acceptance difficult," said Beth Kallmyer, a scientist who was not involved in the study.

"One of the most important things you can tell someone facing an Alzheimer's diagnosis is that they are not alone and that they will not lack support," she said.