Study Finds Similar Links Between Diabetes and Depression Across Europe in Over-50s

A recent study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Vienna has revealed that the relationship between diabetes and depression remains consistent across 18 European countries among individuals aged 50 and older. The research indicates that the increased risk of developing depression in people with diabetes—and vice versa—is similar regardless of national differences.

The investigators analyzed data from over 45,000 individuals participating in large longitudinal studies, including the English Longitudinal Study on Aging, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging, and the Survey on Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe. Participants, averaging around 65 years old, were followed for up to 11 years. The study examined numerous factors at both the country and individual levels, such as healthcare quality, economic inequality, age-related poverty, gender disparities, and lifestyle choices like smoking and physical activity.

Results showed that, across countries, having high depressive symptoms increased the odds of developing diabetes by 15%, while having diabetes increased the likelihood of experiencing high depressive symptoms by 48%. Interestingly, country-specific factors such as healthcare quality, expenditure, poverty levels, and inequality did not significantly alter these associations.

The only notable exception was body mass index (BMI). Higher BMI in individuals with diabetes was linked to an increased risk of depressive symptoms, with each point rise in BMI raising odds by approximately 2.1%. This suggests that weight management could be vital in addressing the comorbidity.

The study also found variability in the general prevalence of diabetes and depression across countries. For instance, the lowest odds of developing diabetes were in the Netherlands, while Portugal had the highest. Conversely, Denmark had the lowest prevalence of depressive symptoms, with Italy presenting the highest.

Dr. Jaroslav Gottfried emphasized that the consistent nature of these associations across Europe implies that prevention strategies targeting either condition could be effective universally. This finding underscores the importance of integrated care approaches to manage and prevent diabetes and depression among older adults.

Overall, this research highlights that the link between diabetes and depression among those over 50 is stable across diverse European populations, supporting the development of broad preventative measures regardless of country-specific healthcare systems or socioeconomic factors.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-links-diabetes-depression-similar-europe.html