Statistics
Signs and Symptoms
Risk factors
Intervention
Prevention
100
What is the percentage of undiagnosed depression in older adults?
50%
100
What are three signs of depression in someone 55+?
Sadness or feelings of despair; Unexplained or aggravated aches and pains; Loss of interest in socializing or hobbies; Weight loss or loss of appetite; Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness; Lack of motivation and energy; Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, oversleeping, or daytime sleepiness); Loss of self-worth (worries about being a burden, feelings of worthlessness or self-loathing); Slowed movement or speech; Increased use of alcohol or other drugs; Fixation on death; thoughts of suicide; Memory problems; Neglecting personal care (skipping meals, forgetting meds, neglecting personal hygiene).
100
How can a fall lead to depression?
Physical impairment leading to loss of movement, independence
100
How long does it take for symptoms of depression to improve with the use of antidepressants?
Several weeks
Why?
100
What is an exercise that most older adults can do, that can help prevent/manage depression?
Walking, chair yoga
200
True or False: Women are more likely than men to binge drink to as a means of "coping" with symptoms of depression
False
Studies show that about 12.3 percent of men and 8.4 percent of women between the ages of 57-85 suffer from depressive symptoms and heavy or binge drinking. In some cases, people use alcohol to cope with depressive symptoms. Heavy drinking could be the direct result of social isolation.
200
True or False: Sleeping patterns remain normal when someone is experiencing depression
False
200
True or false: Some medications may cause depressive symptoms?
True
While the mood-related side effects of prescription medication can affect anyone, older adults are more sensitive because, as we age, our bodies become less efficient at metabolizing and processing drugs.
200
An example of an alternative therapy for treating depression could be ____.
Yoga, exercise, dietary supplements, music; massage, socialization
200
What are some hobbies or activities older adults could do to help manage symptoms of depression?
Playing a game, watching a certain TV show, gardening, and meeting with friends
300
True or False: Men are more likely to experience depression than women
False
Depression is 1.5-3 times more common in women than men
Causes:
Hormonal Changes (puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and menstruation, may trigger depression. These changes can disrupt brain chemicals like serotonin that control mood),
Inherited traits
Life experiences
Sleep disorders
Social and family roles
Employment environment
Stress
Cortisol response (Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced by your 2 adrenal glands, which sit on top of each kidney. When you are stressed, increased cortisol is released into your bloodstream. Having the right cortisol balance is essential for your health, and producing too much or too little cortisol can cause health problems)
300
True or False: Depression and Dementia symptoms look the same
Symptoms of Depression
Mental decline is relatively rapid
Know the correct time, date, location
Difficulty concentrating
Language and motor skills are slow but normal
You notice or worry about memory problems
Symptoms of Dementia
Mental decline happens slowly
Being confused and disoriented; become lost in familiar locations
Difficulty with short-term memory
Writing, speaking, and motor skills are impaired
You don't notice memory problems or seem to care
300
Name 3 risk factors for depression.
Decreased physical activity, TBI, financial stress, social isolation, mental health history, loss of loved ones, sleep disturbance, medical conditions, genes, addiction
300
What are common antidepressants used to effectively treat depression?
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors )
SSRIs treat depression by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the human body that helps regulate many activities, including mood, behavior, memory, and sleep. It's produced by nerve cells in the brain and intestines from a protein called tryptophan. Serotonin works by sending messages between cells throughout the body, mainly in the brain, intestines, and blood
300
What are the important vitamins the older population should be consuming that can assist with depression management?
C,E,B, and D
B:Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression
C: For the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It helps the body make collagen, an important protein used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is needed for healing wounds, and for repairing and maintaining bones and teeth
D: Promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal bone mineralization and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany (involuntary contraction of muscles, leading to cramps and spasms).
E: Has been found to be very effective in the prevention and reversal of various disease complications due to its function as an antioxidant, its role in anti-inflammatory processes, its inhibition of platelet aggregation and its immune-enhancing activity
400
True or false: Depression is ranked in the top 10 most prevalent condition globally?
True
400
What is depression?
A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. More than just sadness in response to life's struggles and setbacks, depression changes how you think, feel, and function in daily activities. It can interfere with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and enjoy life. Just trying to get through the day can be overwhelming. While some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom, others feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic.
400
True or False:
Medications can be a contributing factor to depression
True
Certain medications, especially blood pressure medicines, steroids, and pain medicines, can contribute to depression
400
This type of therapy is often associated with unwanted adverse effects such as memory impairment?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), during which electrodes are placed on a person’s head to enable a safe, mild electric current to pass through the brain. This type of therapy is usually considered only if a person’s illness has not improved with other treatments.
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which uses magnets to activate the brain. rTMS does not require anesthesia and targets only specific regions of the brain to help reduce side effects such as fatigue, nausea, or memory loss that could happen with ECT.
400
True or False:
Eating foods high in fat and sodium decrease the symptoms of depression?
False
Inflammation, blood flow, weight gain
500
True or False: Suicide rates increase as we age
True
- Among adults age 55 and older, the highest rates of suicide were for men age 85 and older and women ages 55–64.
- The largest percent increase in suicide rates between 2001 and 2021 occurred among men ages 55–64 and among women ages 65–74.
500
True or False: Men and women experience the same symptoms of depression
False
Women: Guilt; Worthlessness; Hopelessness; Anhedonia (inability to feel joy); Mood swings; Self-criticism; Sense of control; Crying for no apparent reason; Decreased appetite; Suicide attempts; Heartaches; Breast tenderness; Physically weak/exhausted.
Men: Anger; Irritability; Restlessness; Obsessive-compulsive thought patterns; Memory problems; Difficulty concentrating; Racing thoughts; Excessive alcohol/drug use; Risky behavior; Suicide completion; Chest tightness; Erectile and other sexual dysfunction issues; Digestive issues; Heart palpitations; Low testosterone.
500
What conditions increase the rates of depression in older populations?
Stroke, Dementia, Parkinson's disease, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular disease
500
What are the benefits of talk therapy when addressing symptoms of depression?
It can help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behavior. It may be done with a psychologist, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), psychiatrist, or other licensed mental health care professional.
500
True or False:
You only need 4-5 hours of sleep per night to help balance symptoms of depression
False:
7-9 Hours
Not getting enough sleep can cause:
- Irritability
- Memory problems and forgetfulness
- Feelings of depression
- More falls or accidents