Signs and Symptoms of Depression in the Elderly

Jeanne: I'm Jeanne from East Lansing, Michigan. My mother is 90 years old, I would like to know the signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly.

Richard d'alli: Your mother is not alone Jeanne. Up to 15% of all elderly person will experience a depression but age alone is not a risk factor but being widowed and having severe medical problems are risk factors. Unlike everyone with depression the elderly experience deep, deep, sadness but the difference is they also have physical complaints problems that might be masking the depressions, poor concentrations, sleep problems, poor appetite, weight loss, paranoia the important distinction however for physicians is is this depression or is it dementia.



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