Over two million Americans over the age of 65 have some type of depression, but the condition is often misdiagnosed. Mental Health America reports that"primary care physicians accurately recognize less than one half ofWhen manifestations of depression resemble those of cognitive decline, it's known as"pseudodementia"—and it's not actually dementia at all.
but, unlike true dementia, these symptoms may be reversible with treatment for depression," according to VeryWell Health.of an individual's medical history, physical and mental examinations, and possibly, interviews with family members by a medical professional," advises the Alzheimer's Association. In addition,"it may be helpful to consult a geriatric psychiatrist who specializes in recognizing, diagnosing, and treating depression in older adults.
Not only are the symptoms of dementia and depression similar, the two conditions are linked in other ways as well. A study published by the Archives of General Psychiatry reports that"people who became depressed late in life had aof dementia, and those who'd been depressed since middle age were at 80 percent greater risk."
The study notes that while some research found that depression follows—or coincides with—cognitive decline,"most studies and several meta-analyses have concluded that depression precedes dementia and is associated with approximately a twofold increase in the risk of developing cognitive impairment or dementia."
The good news is, there are things you can do to help mitigate your risk of both depression and dementia. Studies show that