What are the symptoms of depression in older adults?

In older adults, the symptoms of depression often mimic the signs of dementia. Older adults with depression may think more slowly, lack the ability to concentrate, act confused, and have memory problems. To determine if an older adult has depression and not dementia, antidepressants are prescribed. The medication will relieve depression, but causes no improvement in symptoms if the correct diagnosis is dementia. Because of similarities in the symptoms of depression and dementia, doctors may diagnose a depressed older adult with pseudodementia or dementia of depression.

Lately, your mom seems sad and hopeless. She's listless, anxious, morose, or unkempt. If these symptoms occur every day for two weeks or more, she may have major depression (also called clinical depression, major depressive disorder, or MDD). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1% to 5% of older people have depression. If they are ill, the figure can rise to 13.5%. Often, older people won't admit to feeling sad, says Ian Cook, MD, professor of psychiatry and director of the Depression Research and Clinic Program at UCLA. "They may feel they should white-knuckle through depression when, in fact, it's a brain problem, a shift in their neurochemicals and brain activity."

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