Can Depression Mimic Dementia?

There are a number of conditions other than dementia that also interfere with normal brain function. I would like to explore depression as it is experienced by seniors because a major depression can significantly affect thinking and mental processing to the extent that it can mimic dementia in many ways.

Fatigue, sadness and withdrawal used to be considered normal responses of seniors to aging. The common misperception was that as people aged they often ‘naturally became disconnected’ from the world. It is now recognized that depression is not a normal part of the aging process, and withdrawal is instead a symptom of serious depression.

Depression comes on gradually over a few weeks to months and if left undiagnosed and untreated a person can silently battle this debilitating illness for years.

Here are some of the most common experiences that seniors with depression may have:
Poor quality of sleep, often waking early in the morning (3:00- 4:00 am)
Feeling of exhaustion and desire to sleep all the time
Decreased appetite and weight loss
Tearfulness, worry or feelings of guilt over life events
Memory loss, poor concentration, impaired thinking·  
Experience of pain may be heightened
Apathy
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities

The stigma of the past may have been a barrier to reporting these changes but it should no longer be. There are good reasons for seeing a Doctor if you or a loved one are experiencing changes in mood, because the sooner these changes are evaluated, the earlier treatment can begin.

There are many excellent and effective treatment options that can be considered if depression is diagnosed. An improvement in mood permissions improvements in life quality … each day!

This article has been provided by Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA. Laurie is a registered nurse who has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry since 1993.