Depression

Depression among elderly people can cause symptoms in the form of memory disorders and concentration loss. Depression generally progresses more quickly than dementia. The depression symptoms progress gradually over weeks and are often accompanied by anxiety and listlessness.

Depression among elderly people has been called pseudodementia. Older treatments for depression sometimes had side-effects in elderly people that included confusion (delirium) which can also be mistaken for dementia.

Depression in relation to dementia

Depression may also arise in association with the progression of dementia. Appr. 50 % of patients with Alzheimer's dementia develop a depressive condition during the course of their illness. The frequency for vascular dementia is slightly higher. Patients with DLB have an incidence of depression around 40 %.

Please read more about depression at www.depnet.com.au

People who have dementia and depression co-existing, more frequently experience anger, aggressiveness, generalised aches and pains, muscle cramps, headaches and dizziness. Many patients have undergone extensive physical examinations and investigations before the diagnosis of depression is made.