On the 11th (Friday) at 9:55 pm on EBS1 The episode is broadcast.
The Republic of Korea has entered a super-aging society, with one in five citizens over the age of 65! However, the entry into this super-aging society is also deeply related to the increase in various diseases. In particular, irregular sleep disorders and loss of vitality that occur in old age. It’s easy to think that despondency and low self-esteem are natural symptoms of getting older, but could this be the beginning of depression in old age?
Elderly people are unable to escape the vicious cycle of depression due to mental pain that reduces their quality of life! What is the reason why elderly people fall into depression like this? Depression in the elderly is not a simple mood problem, but is caused by a complex combination of psychological factors resulting from neurobiological brain changes and social isolation.
How can we prevent depression in the elderly and live a healthy old age through the right treatment?
EBS In the ‘If left unattended, the brain is damaged, depression in the elderly’, we learn how to overcome depression in the elderly with Professor Lim Hyun-guk, a psychiatrist.
Elderly depression that attacks the brain
A woman in her 80s said she visited the hospital led by her daughter. The patient was showing severe memory loss and abnormal behavior such as auditory hallucinations and visual hallucinations. Symptoms similar to dementia appeared, such as talking to oneself and forgetting neighbors who had lived in the same neighborhood for over 15 years, but neuropsychological tests, CT, and MRI tests to diagnose dementia all showed normal results. So what is the name of her illness? This is geriatric depression.
So how did depression appear similar to dementia symptoms? That’s because depression damages the brain. In particular, depression in the elderly reduces the recovery of the brain, making it more prone to damage. When depression occurs, neuroinflammation within the brain increases, and neuroinflammation has a negative impact on the function of nerve cells, leading to memory decline and degenerative cognitive dysfunction that occur in degenerative cognitive dysfunction. It is accompanied by various symptoms such as loss of concentration.
Same memory problem! What is the difference between depression and dementia?
Memory impairment that occurs in both dementia and elderly depression! So what is the difference? Alzheimer’s disease and geriatric depression have different causes and patterns of memory impairment. First, in Alzheimer’s disease, tau protein, a toxic substance, damages the medial temporal lobe surrounding the hippocampus, resulting in memory impairment. As a result, new information is entered, but it cannot be saved, so the most recent memory is lost.
On the other hand, depression in the elderly causes damage to the prefrontal cortex, which controls concentration and judgment. Depression can lead to loss of concentration and inability to input new information, which can lead to memory problems. What is especially noteworthy is that depression in the elderly is closely related to the onset of dementia. Depression increases the risk of dementia by 1.6 to 1.8 times. Neuroinflammation attacks the brain, and as the brain’s defenses become neutralized, the risk of dementia increases.
What are the causes of depression in elderly people?
The causes of depression in older adults are diverse and complex. One of them is said to be caused by an abnormality in the secretion of neurotransmitters that control emotions. The balance of serotonin, which regulates mood, appetite, and sleep, norepinephrine, which controls emotion and memory, and dopamine, which affects pleasure and reward, causes stress. It is said that depression occurs when it breaks down. Accordingly, depression is usually treated with antidepressants by blocking the reuptake of these neurotransmitters. However, if depression in the elderly is not treated properly and on time, it can lead to extreme choices.
Korea ranks first in elderly suicide rate among OECD countries! One of the biggest causes is economic difficulties, chronic disease, decline in physical function, and social isolation. In particular, elderly people are prone to the ‘tunnel view’ phenomenon where they focus only on negative thoughts, but the interest and consideration of family and neighbors is an important preventive measure to prevent the elderly suicide rate.
Treatment of depression in elderly people who must wait patiently for the drug to take effect
Elderly depression is characterized as being more difficult and difficult to treat than general adult depression because of treatment resistance. Due to aging, the neuroplasticity of the brain decreases, which reduces the effectiveness of the drug. Generally, young people show the first response within about 3 to 4 weeks after drug treatment, but older people have to wait longer, about 4 to 5 weeks, to see a response. That’s how much patience is needed in treatment. Antidepressant treatment is very important, but negative perceptions about drugs are reducing the effectiveness of treatment. Are antidepressants really addictive and resistant?
How to overcome depression in seniors?
A woman in her 70s who suffered from depression for four years, but has now regained her vitality. Now my body and mind are healthy enough to not need medication. So what was her secret to getting out of depression? It was consistent medication treatment, regular exercise, warm consideration and interest from her family, and active interactions with various people through various hobbies that helped her escape the nightmare of depression.
Because you are an old person, you naturally feel sick, and because you are an old person, you do not naturally feel depressed. Professor Lim Hyeon-guk of the Department of Psychiatry says we need to pay attention to depression in the elderly so that our parents and elderly neighbors who cannot talk about their difficulties can receive appropriate treatment as soon as possible and live a vibrant old age.
Depression in the elderly, a disease of old age that becomes dangerous if left untreated! Broadcast on EBS 1TV at 9:55 pm on Friday, October 11th Let’s learn more in the section ‘If left unattended, the brain is damaged, depression in the elderly.’
Economy Queen Reporter Park Yu-mi Photo EBS
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