Prevention of Depression in Elderly

Prevention of Depression in Elderly

Prevention of Depression in Elderly - I recently attended and spoke at the 4th Asian Central Nervous System Summit meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. On this occasion I did not just come as a participant as ACNS first in Chengdu, People's Republic of China in 2013 and but also had the opportunity to speak on the topic of how to prevent depression in the elderly.

In addition, I was the moderator at the event was related to the theme of Mental Health Issues in Asia. My topic is so small that discuss topics about how to prevent mental disorders, especially in the elderly. Several other speakers are more focused on the diagnosis and treatment of the latest in the field of mental disorders, especially depression and anxiety disorders.

Speakers from Asia itself only consists of three members, namely Prof. Kongsakon of Thailand, Prof Kim Jae Min of South Korea and myself. The dominance of Asian speaker at the seminar in Asia itself is still lacking to date. Other speakers are from USA, Italy, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Elderly population explosion

My presentation was opened by showing a condition that needs attention, namely the high number of elderly population in Asia and Global. Particularly to Asia alone, in 2000 the elderly population is 206 822 will be doubled in 2025 to 456 303 and a three-fold in 2050 to be 857 040.

For South East Asia the population in 2000 numbered 24 355 and doubled in 2025 to 57 836. While in 2050 is predicted to grow four-fold to 128 958.

This data is taken from the report of the United Nations in 2001. Very interesting is the increase of the elderly population is only happening in Asia, while in other continents such as Europe, America and Africa including stable since 1980. (Source: World Population Aging 2015: Highlights.United Nation)

Explosion age aging population raises issues related to aging including mental disorders in this population will increase as well. The population of mental disorders in the elderly, according to the WHO report of 15% and the highest is depression and dementia.

Depression in the elderly

Depression is a psychiatric disorder that is very often experienced by humans. Symptoms related to the atmosphere and the feeling is very disturbing quality of life and increase the risk of death by suicide. Patients who experience depression have the characteristics and symptoms of the feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

General symptoms such as excessive sadness, decreased mood, desperate and hopeless and do not want to work as usual because of fatigue and no desire to move very heavy.

In elderly depressive symptoms more often complained of symptoms related to the physical as to the number of physical complaints such as pain, fatigue, insomnia and impaired concentration.

These symptoms are often blurred with symptoms of dementia so it is not uncommon in elderly depressed patients also experience what is called pseudodementia or dementia false because although no dementia but experienced memory decline significantly as a result of depression.

Problems related depression in elderly unfortunately not identified either in the primary and secondary health care because there are many opinions when depression or disturbance atmosphere and the feeling in the elderly is something that is fair for process it ages.

The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Vol49, Suppl 1, March 2004 said that the depression in elderly patients could only be detected by doctors in primary care is not more than 51%. Though the prevalence of depressive disorders in primary care elderly could reach 4.4% in women and 2.7% in men.

In addition, the classic factors stigma of mental disorders still haunt people participated to seek help for problems with mental disorders. The problem of depression in the elderly is also made more difficult because of factors related medical problems experienced by the individual as well as the already diminishing physiological function.

Not to mention that a lot of drug use in some elderly people with different diseases. No wonder if the cure rate of depression in the elderly is only about 30% only.

Prevention

The elderly population will indeed continue to rise, especially in Asia. If we do not prevent the problem of mental disorders in the elderly, especially depression it will really cause problems later on. Low productivity of elderly coupled with the problem of mental illness will make the complex handling and daily life of the elderly residence.

Some risk factors can be identified either, and modified either. When my presentation yesterday, the issue of these risk factors may be more attentive than simply handling cases of depressed elderly people who actually do not have a cure rate that is too good.

Factors such as healthy eating, exercise, socialization, quit smoking from now and do not drink alcohol are things that are actually easy to do right away since I was young.

Healthy food itself in this seminar are discussed primarily associated with omega 3 fish oil as determinants of protection against the onset of depression and other disorders on the individual feelings. Good socialization among individuals rather than just the number of group-owned but also the quality of relationships socialization becomes a major factor for the prevention of stress or stress buffering.

Healthy lifestyle during this sometimes is not a major concern because it is only carried out if necessary alone. In fact there are some who argue that a healthy lifestyle such as not to make people enjoy life.

At the end of the presentation I was reminded again that the incidence of depression prevalence of elderly and high cure rates are low, so it's good depression early prevention is one that should be emphasized. Better to prevent than cure.