7 Things to Understand About Depression in Older Adults!*

Do You Know About This?
7 Things to Understand About Depression in Older Adults! *
We all feel sad or down sometimes, especially after hard times like losing a job, going through a breakup, or losing someone we care about. These feelings can make us stop enjoying things, mess with our sleep, or change our appetite.
But – here’s the thing… Clinical Depression isn’t the same as feeling sad, and it’s not just part of getting older! Things to Understand About Depression in Older Adults
Understanding Depression in Older Adults
Here’s What You’ll Learn Today:
1. Depression as a normal part of aging?
2. What depression can look like in older adults.
3. Why it’s hard to spot.
4. How doctors diagnose depression in older adults.
5. Why treating depression matters.
6. What else can cause depression-like symptoms.
7. Where to learn more.
7 Things to Understand About Depression in Older Adults
What You Need to Know*:
1. Is Depression a Normal Part of Aging?
No, it’s not! Feeling sad every now and then is normal, but clinical depression is more serious.
Only about 2% of people over 65 have major depression (compared to 6% of all adults).
The chance of depression goes up when someone has serious health issues like:
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- Stroke, heart disease, or cancer (up to 40% of people with these conditions feel depressed).
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- Hospital stays (30% of hospitalized older adults feel this way).
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2. What Depression Looks Like in Older Adults.
Depression doesn’t always look the way you’d expect in older people. It’s not just about feeling sad or crying.
Sometimes it shows up as:
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- Physical Issues: Things like pain, sleep problems, or bowel troubles typically lead to lots of medical tests, that can delay a diagnosis of depression.
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- Negative Thinking: Believing things like, “I’m a failure,” or, “I’ve ruined everything,” even when it’s not true.
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- Pulling Back Socially: Avoiding friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy.
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- Lack of motivation with a treatment or rehabilitation plan (this is often a trigger for a depression evaluation in hospitalized elders).
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- Worry and Anxiety: Constant worrying, restlessness, or trouble concentrating. Nearly 50% of older adults with depression also have an anxiety disorder.
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3. Why It’s Hard to Spot Depression in Older Adults.
Depression often gets missed in older adults for several reasons and treating it is important because ignoring it can make things worse.
A couple of reasons why depression is often overlooked:
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- Symptoms overlap with other health issues, like fatigue, poor sleep, bowel issues or appetite changes which might get blamed on aging or illnesses like Parkinson’s.
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- Stigma: Some older adults don’t want to talk about their feelings or believe that being down is just “part of getting older”- but, it’s NOT!
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- Focus on physical health: Doctors and caregivers may prioritize physical medical conditions and leave mental health issues unaddressed or unfound.
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4. How Doctors Diagnose Depression.
There’s no simple test for depression – it’s all about understanding the person’s symptoms.
To be diagnosed with major depression, someone needs to have a low mood or lose interest in things they enjoy for at least two weeks, and persistent depressive disorder may last a few years or longer.
They also need at least five of the following symptoms:
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- Sleep problems (too much or too little).
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- Feel guilty or worthless.
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- Low energy or constant fatigue.
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- Trouble with focus or decision-making.
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- Changes in appetite (eating more or less than usual).
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- Physical slowing or restlessness.
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- Suicidal thoughts or feelings.
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Doctors also need to check to make sure these symptoms aren’t caused by something else, like a medical condition or side effects from medication.
5. Why Treating Depression Matters.
If depression isn’t treated, it can lead to serious problems, including:
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- Increased risk of falls and injuries.
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- Memory issues or slower thinking.
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- Worsening of existing health problems, like heart disease.
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- Higher risk of suicide – especially in older men.
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7 Things to Understand About Depression in Older Adults
6. What Else Can Cause Depression-Like Symptoms?
Sometimes other health problems or situations can mimic depression or make it worse, such as:
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- Medical conditions: Stroke, heart disease, thyroid problems, B12 deficiency, or Parkinson’s disease.
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- Medications: Certain drugs can have side effects that look like depression: Steroids (Prednisone), Beta-blockers (like, propranolol), Benzodiazepines (Valium, Restoril, Rivitril, Serax), Anti-Parkinson’s drugs, Estrogen and Progesterone, Hydralazine, Clonidine and even Cannabis and alcohol.
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- Grief or loss: Losing a loved one can cause sadness and symptoms that overlap with depression. If these feelings last a long time or get worse, it might be depression.
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- Cognitive changes: The relationship between depression and dementia is complex and evolving. Severe depression can make someone look like they have dementia when they don’t (sometimes called “pseudo-dementia”) and some people with dementia have depression as part of their condition. Learn more here: Is it Depression or Pseudo-dementia?
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- Conditions that can mimic depression: These “mimics” can cause depressed mood, irritability, or even psychosis. Dr Didyk often checks blood glucose, calcium levels, thyroid function tests and Vitamin B12 levels. Learn more here: Understanding Laboratory Tests: 10 Commonly Used Blood tests for Older Adults
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The Bottom Line?
Depression is NOT a “normal” part of aging.
It’s important to take it seriously and recognize the signs in yourself or someone you care about. With the right care and diagnosis, older adults can feel better, regain their energy, and enjoy life again!
* Read the Full Article !
with More Details on Medication, Treatments and even Prevention by Dr Nicole Didyk, MD at:
Better Health While Aging: Depression in Aging: Diagnosis & Treatment When the Golden Years are Blue
7. Where To Learn More.
Dr. Nicole Didyk is a board-certified geriatrician in Canada and a regular expert contributor to the website: Better Health While Aging created by D. Leslie Kernisan, a board-certified in internal medicine and geriatrics who practices and teaches at UCSF Division of Geriatrics
You can learn more from Dr Didyk by visiting:
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- Check out this short video that she made about Depression and Dementia
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More Helpful Resources recommended by Dr Kernisan:
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- Better Health While Aging – Informative and educational website written by Dr Leslie Kernisan, board-certified in internal medicine and geriatrics who practices and teaches at UCSF Division of Geriatrics. Better Health While Aging Site
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Disclaimer
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- The material on this site is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as establishing a physician-patient relationship between Dr. Kernisan and a caregiver, or care recipient.
- None of the information shared should be considered a substitute for individualized medical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment.
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