The Significance of Depression Depression, a type of mood disorder, is the most prevalent mental health problem among older adults.
Depression is the most common elderly mental health disorder, affecting around 5 percent of seniors around the world. The illness causes a long-term change in mood or a lack of interest in preferred activities. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of depression in seniors: Feeling sad, hopeless, guilty, or empty.
While most have good mental health, many older adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substance use problems as well as other health conditions such as diabetes, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis.
Personality may change somewhat over time, but not greatly. These changes do not seem to be systematically related to thinking skills or other common changes we experience in ageing. This suggests that we can retain our individuality as we age. Don't worry about your personality.
For example, agitation and anxiety both commonly increase with age and can cause noticeable personality changes. You or your loved one might feel more nervous or on-edge than you used to, or you may get frustrated more easily. Impulsive and reckless behavior are also common personality changes that occur in seniors.
Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate. Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt. Extreme mood changes of highs and lows. Withdrawal from friends and activities.
Cognitive change as a normal process of aging has been well documented in the scientific literature. Some cognitive abilities, such as vocabulary, are resilient to brain aging and may even improve with age. Other abilities, such as conceptual reasoning, memory, and processing speed, decline gradually over time.
Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis and dementia are common chronic conditions at age 85. Osteoarthritis, diabetes, and related mobility disability will increase in prevalence as the population ages and becomes more overweight.
Dementia is a brain disorder that results in memory loss and trouble communicating. Unlike depression or other forms of mental illness that happen more suddenly, people living with dementia decline over a period of time, this depends on the form of dementia they have.
Depression in older adults may be difficult to recognize because older people may have different symptoms than younger people. For some older adults with depression, sadness is not their main symptom. They could instead be feeling more of a numbness or a lack of interest in activities.
“Cognitive decline may begin after midlife, but most often occurs at higher ages (70 or higher).” (Aartsen, et al., 2002) “… relatively little decline in performance occurs until people are about 50 years old.” (Albert & Heaton, 1988).
Dementia is a progressive disease that causes cognitive function to break down abnormally, causing cognitive and physical symptoms that worsen over time. Normal aging is much more minor, with changes resulting from a natural slowing or decrease in efficiency in the body.
When are we considered old? For women, the old age threshold is about 73; for men, 70.
The Warning Signs and How to Spot Mental Health Red Flags
Strong resistance to attending school or absenteeism. Problems with memory, attention or concentration. Big changes in energy levels, eating or sleeping patterns. Physical symptoms (stomach aches, headaches, backaches)
Behavioral change can probably indicate challenges in a senior's health such as depression, anxiety, UTI, or neurocognitive disorder.
The brain shrinks with increasing age and there are changes at all levels from molecules to morphology. Incidence of stroke, white matter lesions, and dementia also rise with age, as does level of memory impairment and there are changes in levels of neurotransmitters and hormones.
One review of 152 longitudinal studies found the biggest changes in personality traits occur from childhood through the 20s. In the 30s, 40s, and 50s, we can and do still change, but these changes come more slowly, and require more effort, said Paul T.