Symptoms of depression in older adults

What are common symptoms of depression? Do symptoms of depression vary by age? Why depression is underdiagnosed in older adults? But after adjusting, many older adults feel well again.

Depression is different.

It is a medical condition that interferes with daily life and normal functioning. It is not a normal part of aging, a sign of weakness, or a character flaw. Many older adults with depression need treatment to feel better.

For some older adults with depression , sadness is not their main symptom. They may have other, less obvious symptoms of depression , or they may not be willing to talk about their feelings. Therefore, doctors may be less likely. Even though it’s common, it’s not a.

Clinical depression in the elderly is common. Late-life depression affects about million Americans ages and older. But only receive treatment for depression. Unfortunately, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in older adults , and they may feel reluctant to seek help.

Geriatric depression is a mental and emotional disorder affecting older adults. Feelings of sadness and occasional blue” moods are normal. However, lasting depression is not a typical part of. Chronic medical ailments can cause depression in older adults and the elderly.

The depressive feelings in older adults and seniors are often associated with physical illness, which increases the risk of depression. However older adults are at an increased risk for experiencing depression. If you are concerned about a loved one, offer to go with him or her to see a health care provider to be diagnosed and treated.

Differences from younger adults. Many of the usual symptoms of depression may be seen. Common symptoms such as fatigue, appetite loss, and trouble sleeping can be part of the aging process or a physical illness.

In a study examining the ability of community-dwelling individuals to discriminate symptoms of anxiety and depression , older adults were less accurate than younger adults and symptoms of depression were more likely to be correctly classified than those of anxiety.

Elderly patients might also be reluctant to talk about their feelings or fail to understand that physical symptoms can be a sign of depression. For elderly people living independently, isolation can make it difficult to reach out for help. The changes that often come in later life—retirement, the death of loved ones, increased isolation, medical problems—can lead to depression.

The CDC reports that a total of million adults age or over—or about percent of that age group—are affected by the condition. Compared to older adults without depression , those with depression often need greater assistance with self-care and daily living activities, and often recover more slowly from physical disorders. Use the checklist below to determine if you or someone you know may be at risk for depression. In older adults , many of the symptoms of depression may go overlooked and untreated as they overlap with stressful life events or physical disorders that accompany advancing age.

And the symptoms of elderly depression can affect every aspect of your life, impacting your energy, appetite, sleep, and interest in work, hobbies, and relationships. Unfortunately, all too many depressed older adults fail to recognize the symptoms of depression , or don’t take the steps to get the help they need. The impact of clinical depression in older adults can be significant, and choosing effective psychotherapeutic and pharmacological management options can be challenging.

An older person may be depressed if, for more than two weeks, he or she has felt sa down or miserable most of the time or has lost interest or pleasure in most of his or her usual activities, and similar to anxiety, has experienced several of the signs and symptoms across at least three of the categories below.