Major depression increased 60% in older people from 2010 to 2019

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In a study from the University of California in San Diego, scientists found the prevalence of depression is increasing among older adults, but there has not been a large increase in mental health treatment.

Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

Possible causes include a combination of biological, psychological and social sources of distress.

Increasingly, research suggests that these factors may cause changes in brain function, including the altered activity of certain neural circuits in the brain.

The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterizes major depression can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms.

These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior or self-esteem. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide.

In the study, researchers used data from 31,502 participants in the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2010 to 2019) to examine trends in depression and mental health treatment among older adults (aged 65 years and older).

The researchers found that during the study period, the estimated prevalence of past-year major depressive episodes among older adults increased from 2.0 to 3.2%, a 60% increase.

Increases were identified among men, white individuals, widows, people with an annual household income of under $20,000, or from $20,000 to $49,000, and those with a college degree.

There were no big changes found for any form of past-year mental health treatment among those with a major depressive episode.

The team says these findings call for urgent expansion of treatment services and training of mental health professionals with expertise in older adults to meet the needs of this growing, vulnerable population.

If you care about mental health, please read studies about the key to depression recovery, and Omega-3 fatty acids could protect memory in healthy older people.

For more information about health, please see recent studies about medications for depression, and results showing too much sugar in diet could make you have these mental problems.

The study was conducted by Kevin H. Yang et al and published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

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