Severe Depression in Seniors may Lead to Dementia Dementia is not a part of normal aging and can render an elderly person incapable of carrying on

with life as usual. It is a condition with symptoms like memory loss, personality change and

impaired cognitive function.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dementia is an umbrella term

for a group of cognitive disorders typically characterized by memory impairment as well as

marked difficulty in the domains of language, motor activity, object recognition, and disturbance

of executive function – the ability to plan, organize, and abstract.

Millions in the United

States are in the grip of

this debilitating mental

disorder, which is a

resultant effect of other

disease or trauma to the

brain. Apart from other

reasons leading to

dementia, a recent

study also claims that

severe depression in

elderly can also lead to

dementia in them.

Major and worsening

conditions of

depression in the

elderly people can

increase the risk of dementia in them, says the study that appeared in the March 2016 edition of

JAMA Psychiatry.

The study involved 2,500 people over the age of 70, who did not exhibit any symptoms of

dementia at the start of the research. The study was conducted over a period of 11 years, of

which the initial 5 years were spent monitoring the depression symptoms in the respondents

while the next 6 years were kept for watching signs of dementia.

Findings

The researchers observed that 21 percent people developed dementia and they were those who

had serious and escalating symptoms of depression. Among those with consistently minimal

symptoms of depression, only 12 percent had gone on to develop dementia.

Allison Kaup, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of California,

San Francisco, and author of the study, said in a university news release, "Our results raise the

possibility that older adults' cognitive [mental] health could be improved with interventions to

reduce depressive symptoms, such as psychotherapy or other behavioral interventions, or

medications."

"This is an important topic for future treatment studies to investigate," Kaup added. According

to her, the possibility of depression being an early sign of dementia in elderly cannot be ruled out

completely. It might also be an emotional response to a decline in thinking and memory skills for

them. However, the study lacked in establishing the cause-and-effect.

The study managed to establish the fact that there is an almost twofold increase in dementia

among those with high and increasing symptoms of depression, which, according to her, suggests

that a particular pattern of depressive symptoms may be an independent risk factor.

Kaup suggested that the elderly should be screened regularly for depression to thwart the

progress of dementia. Such screenings, according to her, would also elicit "a wealth of research

showing that a variety of health and lifestyle factors influence cognitive health, such as physical

activity and maintaining good cardiovascular health.”

“Likewise, it appears that emotional health is important for cognitive health in aging,” she added.

However, more extensive researches are required to come up with accurate results, deduce the

causes leading to depression, and their subsequent effects on the mental health of the elderly.

Hence, depression among the older patients should be taken seriously and not relegated as

something to be taken up at a later date. Early intervention can help avoid a lot of hassles later

on and the elderly at home would be able to lead a decent and healthy life.

If someone in the family is suffering from depression and you are looking for depression

treatment facilities in California, call the Depression Treatment Centers of California for any

assistance. Our experts, available at 24/7 helpline number 855-678-0400, can guide you to the

best depression rehab centers in Los Angeles.

For more information please visit

www.depressiontreatmentcentersofcalifornia.com