Depression in older adults is a serious problem that is often under diagnosed. This is because it often co-occurs with other serious illnesses and elderly people may be less willing to talk about feelings of sadness and hopelessness. The exact causes of depression in the elderly are unknown, but it may result from factors such as environment and family history. Fortunately, even in its most severe form, depression is highly treatable.
Most individuals erroneously believe that depression is a part of being old and this is completely untrue. Depression is not normal for people of any age. There reason for depression in older people is due to a chemical imbalance in their brain. And that chemical imbalance is extremely common and highly treatable. Once an older person seeks treatment, other problems may arise.
As many as 40% of older people taking antidepressants quit or repeatedly miss doses because of side effects, memory problems, or difficulty keeping track of complicated drug regimens. For example, older adults are sometimes more sensitive to side effects of antidepressants. These drugs also may not mix well with medication they take for other illnesses.
