A major study from Colorado State University has revealed new insights into what causes depression in older adults.
Depression is more than just feeling sad—it’s a serious condition that can make daily life very difficult. It’s also one of the top causes of disability around the world, especially for older people.
In this study, researchers used advanced computer tools to study information from a large and diverse group of adults in Europe. All the people in the study were middle-aged or older.
They looked at 56 different things that might be linked to depression. One stood out as the biggest risk for both men and women: feeling socially isolated. In other words, people who felt lonely or cut off from others were more likely to experience depression. After that, poor general health and problems with moving around were also major factors.
The team didn’t stop there. They studied 30 more things related to each person’s social life and family situation. This included how often they talked to or met up with friends, how many friends they had, and how much help they gave or received from others.
The researchers also found that the causes of depression can be a bit different for men and women. For men, trouble handling daily tasks—like paying bills, taking medicine, or using the phone—was a big risk. For women, it was the feeling that family duties were stopping them from doing what they wanted in life.
Even though these gender-specific reasons mattered, they were not as strong as the feeling of social isolation, which affected everyone.
The scientists say it’s important to look at many different things when trying to understand depression. People may feel lonely for many reasons, so it’s helpful to study their relationships, daily habits, and physical health.
This important research was led by Stephen Aichele and was published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe. It shows that staying connected to others and staying healthy are two of the best ways to prevent or manage depression in older adults.
Other studies have looked at how a person’s diet, vitamin levels, and even the foods they eat can affect mental health. For example, eating too many processed foods may lead to depression, while vitamin D and antioxidants may help reduce it.
But one thing is clear from this study: people need people. Strong social ties and good health are key to fighting depression as we age. This research reminds us how important it is to check in on our older family members and neighbors and make sure they feel included, supported, and cared for.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about Middle-aged women with no kids may have this mental issue and findings of scientists find a cause of mental illnesses induced by childhood abuse.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about Frequent painkiller use linked to mental health risks in these people and findings of Common depression drugs may offer new treatment for bipolar disorder.
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