Study: People Tend To Get More Depressed After Age 65

Individuals over the age 65 reported rise in depressive symptoms as they aged. Women initially start with more depressive symptoms than men.

A new study reveals that people get more depressed from age 65 onwards. The University of Bradford study, led by psychology lecturer Dr Helena Chui, builds on a 15-year project observing over 2,000 older Australians living in the Adelaide area.

Previous studies have shown an increase in depressive symptoms with age but only until the age of 85. This is the first study to examine the issue beyond that age. Both men and women taking part in the study reported increasingly more depressive symptoms as they aged, with women initially starting with more depressive symptoms than men.

Depression - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.

‘Physical impairment, the onset of medical condition and the approach of death increases more depressive symptoms in adults over the age 65.’

However, men showed a faster rate of increase in symptoms so that the difference in the genders was reversed at around the age of 80.

The key factors in these increases include levels of physical impairment, the onset of medical conditions, particularly chronic ones and the approach of death. Half of those in the study suffered with arthritis and both men and women with the chronic condition reported more depressive symptoms than those without.

Chui said that social policies and aging-friendly support structures, such as the provision of public transport and access to health care services are needed to target the 'oldest-old' adults as a whole.

Clinical Depression - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment FAQ
Clinical Depression is a serious medical condition that affects majority of people at some point in their lives. Symptoms of clinical depression include sleep disorder, loss of appetite.

The study is published in the International Journal Psychology and Aging.

Source-ANI

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