The authors of this research studied 690 individuals between the ages 65 and 89 over a five-year period. They called the survey the "Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly" study (ACTIVE) -- and the results indicate that "cognitive reserve reflects the persistence of earlier differences in cognitive functioning" as opposed to the differential rates of "age-associated cognitive declines" (Tucker-Drob, p. 431). Moreover, the authors offer a pair of conclusions highly germane to elderly issues. One, formal education achieved during the formative years is not directly related to "rates of decline in cognitive functioning during later life" (p. 441). And two, getting a good education "casually influences cognitive abilities" during youthful years and "these benefits seem to persist…until late adulthood." Indeed the authors hypothesize that these benefits "may also serve to protect against functional impairment" and hence have "substantial implications for everyday functioning in later life" (p. 441).
An article in Southern Medical Journal discusses the "…psychologic morbidity, particularly depressive symptoms" that can be brought on by the death of an elderly spouse (Williams, 2005). The negative and depressive experience of an elderly person who has lost a spouse can "exacerbate the health effects" that the surviving elderly person is already struggling with, Williams explains. Moreover, this "magnifier effect" tends to be "especially pernicious" due to the fact that "bereavement and depression both tend to increase cardiovascular mortality rates" (Williams, p. 90).
What a primary care physician should look for in an elderly person that has recently lost a loved one (in particular a spouse) is signs of "mood disorders"; in the event of a death of a spouse an elderly bereaved person should be encouraged to continue with any religious or spiritual observances, Williams adds. There may also be a need for psychotherapy and other psychosocial support, to help the bereaved person from falling too deeply into depression. Depression, in fact, is itself a killer; to wit, a group of Dutch investigators followed a "large cohort of [depressed] older persons" over a 4-year period and found that "major depression was associated with almost a twofold higher risk of death...
However, the side effects of drugs, especially in older adults, and the less-than-universal effectiveness of current therapies prompt the continued search for alternate safe treatment interventions. Numerous research studies report the use of psychotherapeutic approaches and compare them to medical therapies. (Mcfarland, 2005) Medical treatments have been assessed through various studies. Mcfarland, reports on studies on cognitive behavioral therapy. Research was conducted in hopes that there would be a significant
Depression in the Elderly Although many of the elderly citizens in the United States in the future will enjoy better health than in years past, many will still suffer from various age-related healthcare and mental health problems as they grow older that may contribute to the development of depressive disorders. In fact, older people in particular have a number of factors working against them that appear to contribute to the incidence
Depression and Eating Disorders The eating disorder category in the DSM-IV includes Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and the Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified categories. Peck and Lightsey (2008) note that while the DSM classification symptom is currently the most used system, there has been some debate in the about how to classify people with eating disordered behavior. A viable alternative to the discrete categories used in the DSM is notion of
Depression continues to be one of most common medical conditions for the elderly. Percentages of elderly with the illness Degree of increase in suicidal tendencies of depressed Wrong assumption that aging necessitates depression. Difficulty of healthcare providers in recognizing depression. Increased tendency toward suicidal tendencies in many depressed. Other individuals immune to depression and suicide despite life problems. Individuals may not even recognize their own depression Myths associated with aging including depression Symptoms may take months to worsen and
Changes in the brain such as decreased adaptive capacity, neurotransmitter and receptor changes, cognitive impairment, and dementia increase the risk of depression, as more factors enter the equation and the patient becomes more depressed, the likelihood of a suicide attempts increases (McFarland, 2005).As previously mentioned, diagnosing depression in the elderly can be a challenging task due to all of the factors involved. When considering if an individual is depressed,
Elderly Population With Diabetes AGE MATTERS Elderly Diabetes Epidemiology: Definition and Description Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and factors to health conditions in particular populations and its application to the control of these health conditions (NCCDPHP, 2004). The shortest description of the work of epidemiologists is that they count and compare data of cases of disease or injuries in a given population. Then they compare these data with those of another or
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