Question

Why is depression often mistaken for dementia?

Answer 1

Ans) Depression in the elderly is often mistaken as dementia. Dementia is caused by problems with different areas of the brain. In the early stages and even middle stages of dementia, the patient may appear to be depressed, but caregivers usually brush it off as a symptom of dementia. This is not uncommon as dementia and depression-elderlydepression usually produce basically the same symptoms which include:

- They display negative emotions (helplessness, worthless)
- They have a negative view on/of almost everything
- They distance themselves from others
- They are uninterested in most things
- Crying
- Sleeping more than usual - requesting go to bed earlier and stay in bed longer
- Loss of appetite and weight
- They display a lack of energy and motivation
- They have little to no sense of direction

Many caregivers do realize that their patients may be depressed. However, if the individual is in a nursing home, rest home, long-term care facility, or assisted living facilities, the caregiver may simply believe the individual is lonely.

For the elderly population loneliness is very common especially if their spouse has passed away. Even though their children still visit regularly or as often as they can, it is very difficult for the patient to find the same type of happiness they had with their spouse.

Once the individual’s physician has diagnosed the patient with depression, the caregiver can start to provide the proper care the patient requires.

The physician will usually prescribe an anti-depressant medication to help with the depression. There are numerous things the caregiver can do in addition to help the patient through their depression.