Mental & Emotional Health

On this Nova program on aging, scientists were investigating why some live longer than others do.

The bottom line seems to be good genes because several people who lived to be 100 admitted to leading what some would consider unhealthy lifestyles. Most of them had parents and grandparents who lived long lives so it does seem to be passed down in the genes.

Cholesterol

It was discovered that 60% of the centurions had high HDL cholesterol levels (the good fat). Their HDLs were also larger so could fight the bad fat more effectively.

• To learn more about research and experiments with genes that may help you live longer, watch the segment on aging at Nova Science Now.

Secrets Before You Die

What were not studied were the attitudes of people who lived longer than average. It did come out with a few of them though because one couple mentioned that they didn’t feel old and they seemed fairly active.

When you focus on helping others and enjoying the present, you don’t have time to worry about aging or dying. In Dr. John Izzo’s book Five Secrets Before You Die one of the secrets is to live the moment.

“I came to believe that through this secret, live the moment, they were telling me to judge my life less and enjoy it more.” said Dr.Izzo. It was an excellent book and he interviewed over 200 wise elders so that they could help share their secrets in his book.

While the Nova investigation was interesting, I find it ironic that the people who did live to be 100 didn’t seem to obsess about what they ate or drank, yet they managed to live long lives.

A study published in December,2007 in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology found people over 65 could lower their risk of developing dementia by up to 29 percent.

They didn’t say exactly why this was but a theory that made sense was that it gets the blood flow pumping better through the brain. This lessens the likelihood of strokes, which also affects the memory.

Luckily, moderate exercise is still effective like walking because once you’re over 65 you may not be into anything too strenuous.

“Our findings show moderate physical activity, such as walking, and all physical activities combined lowered the risk of vascular dementia in the elderly independent of several sociodemographic, genetic and medical factors,” said study author Giovanni Ravaglia, MD, with University Hospital S. Orsola Malpighi, in Bologna, Italy. “It’s important to note that an easy-to-perform moderate activity like walking provided the same cognitive benefits as other, more demanding activities.” (ScienceDaily, Dec. 21, 2007—ST. PAUL, Minn)

Yesterday I talked at some length about things you could do to help a depressed loved one but today I’d like to take a look at self help tips for the depressed elderly population.

I have already mentioned this, but it’s so important that I feel like I have to mention it again isolation and inactivity only make depression worse in most people; the more active you are (socially, mentally, physically and spiritually), the better you will feel. Therefore, my first tip for self-help is:

>get out into the world! Don’t stay stuck in your house all day long. Go to the park, take a trip to the beauty salon (get your hair did!) or call a friend to have lunch with them. Get out!

>along the same lines, connect to others; don’t spend all your time alone. If you can’t get out to socialize, ask loved ones to come and visit you. Call people, email them, but connect to them!

>do you remember how scrapbooking used to make you so happy? Why don’t you try that again? Pick up hobbies and pasttimes that you used to enjoy and see if you still enjoy them as much!

>give your time to others. If you can get out, helping others is probably the best way to feel great about yourself. This may also combat those feelings of helplessness due to retirement. You can do something to add to the world.

>if allowed, get a pet to keep you company. Studies show that just petting animals can lower blood pressure and make people calmer.

>laugh at something! Laughter provides a definite mood booster, so tell a joke, read a joke, search for silly videos on YouTubeDigger (btw, they need a current writer for that blog if anyone is interested) and see what you can find. My favorite laugh-inducing YouTube video is below. Tell me you don’t laugh watching that!

mental & emotional health, depression, elderly depression, self-help tips, evolution of dance

Yesterday’s depression without sadness seems to have hit a search engine of sorts - it’s so random which posts in which series catch people’s eyes. I’m glad, though that people are so enthusiastic about what I’m writing!

Today I’ll take a look at how to help a loved one you know with depression; there are ways, and you can do something even when that person doesn’t specifically seek your help, just offering to help them “if you want it,” will be a help to some people. For many elderly individuals, they were raised during a time when mental illness was HIGHLY stigmatized and very misunderstood. (You think we have it bad now … ask your grams about mental asylums in her day.) This stigmatization and misunderstanding may make seniors even less likely to ask for help; especially if they grew up hearing that depression wasn’t a real illness.

By offering emotional support to a senior citizen you care about, you are making a difference. Listen to them with compassion and empathy, don’t criticize their feelings but do gently point out the realities that they may be missing, try your best to offer hope to them. Also, if your loved one is willing, offer to make sure they get an accurate diagnosis of their depression, and then go with them to his/her appointments if they are willing to let you. Be their helper and let them know that they are loved, no matter what their diagnosis may be.

There are other tips for personally helping an elderly depressed loved one:
*invite your loved one out; help keep his or her mind and body active. Take walks, take an art class, go on a trip to the museum; do things that your loved one used to enjoy!
*schedule these outings (and other social activities) regularly: give your loved one something to look forward to and know that they won’t be isolated all the time! If they refuse to go out with you, gently insist … I know that I always feel better after being “forced” to go out with friends.
*plan and prepare healthy, easy to reheat meals for your loved one. This way they don’t have to worry about cooking meals and they are still getting fed well-balanced full meals (fruits, vegetables, healthy grains!).
* encourage your loved one to follow through with their treatment; depression usually recurs when treatment is stopped too soon, so help your loved one keep up with his or her treatment plan

mental and emotional health, depression, elderly depression, helping depressed people

We’re getting towards the end of series on depression in the elderly, and today I’d like to address something that not many people realize occurs; depression without sadness.

There are quite a few people in the world (many of them elderly) who live their lives depressed, but not sad. They may, however, complain of a lack of energy, no motivation and physical problems. These physical problems and the complaints that they bring (arthritis pain increasing, headache pain becoming more frequent) may be the predominant symptom of depression in the elderly. These elderly individuals are more likely to show signs of anxiety and irritability when they don’t feel sad. These individuals may wring their hands, pace rooms, fret obsessive about money, their health or even the state of the world. You can’t tell me that you don’t know an elderly individual who always is concerned about the state of the world. They may be living with depression and not recognize it.

There are certain clues to look for in adults who don’t say that that they’re sad but they’re still living with major depression:
*unexplained and/or aggravated aches and pains - like I mentioned before maybe Gram’s arthritis is acting up continually and Gramps always has a backache, or maybe they are depressed
*hopelessness and helplessness - no positive outlook for the future is a HUGE symptom of full-blown depression, and the elderly individual feeling as though they can’t do anything is right below that
*being overly anxious or incredibly worried about things
*memory problems not associated with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia
*loss of feelings of pleasure in previous enjoyable activities
*slowed movement, whether due to those physical ailments or just a general slowing down of an elderly individual’s mental state
*irritability above and beyond the regular “grouchy old man” state
*a lack of interest in personal care such as skipping meals, neglecting personal hygiene or purposefully forgetting medication

You will notice that NONE of these signs has anything to do with being sad, but when you look at them in a broader sense, you would immediately see depression in a person.

mental and emotional health, depression, elderly, depression without sadness, signs & symptoms of depression

Now that we’ve gone through some causes of depression in the elderly, it’s time to learn about what we should be looking for! However, first, I want to address something that someone emailed me about; the difference between grief and depression.

Grief is not depression; there is a difference. A grieving person many exhibit and experience depressive symptoms (frequent crying and profound sadness), but that doesn’t mean that they are chronically & full-blown depressed. Grief is a natural and healthy response to major losses and while there is no “set” time for grief’s end, if it doesn’t let up over time, or stops all signs of joy (laughter at jokes, enjoying a hug, appreciating nature, etc), it may be a sign of depression.

Signs & Symptoms of Depression in the Elderly
*sadness (the most obvious symptom, but you must remember to look at the situation, not just the mood)
*fatigue (moreso than normal)
*losing interest or just giving up pastimes that the elderly individual used to find enjoyable
*withdrawal from all social activities or reluctance to be with friends, leave the house, or engage in activities
*loss of appetite and therefore a loss of weight (which could be related to other things, so be sure to look at everything going on in the life of the possibly-depressed person)
*difficulty falling asleep, difficultly staying asleep, difficulty waking up in the morning, or even being overtired during the day time … essentially any sleep disturbance that didn’t used to be there
*loss of self worth - like I mentioned in previous entries, this purposeless life can cause an elderly individual to feel like a burden or like they’re worthless
*increased use of drugs (prescription and non-prescription) or an increased use of alcohol; both can be incredibly dangerous as well as exacerbate depressive symptoms
*being overly fixated on death, having suicidal thoughts or even suicide attempts

[tags]mental and emotional health, depression, elderly depression, signs & symptoms of depression in the elderly[tags]

Yesterday I finished up the general overview of elderly depression and today I’d like to start addressing some of the causes of depression in the elderly.

The significant life changes and stressors that elderly individuals face put them at high risk for chronic and full blown depression. Those at highest risk, however, are those with a personal or family history of depression, those elderly individuals with failing health, those individuals with substance abuse problems and especially those with very little social support.

On top of these influences, there are other specific causes and risk factors that may contribute to your grandfather’s depression:

>loneliness and isolation - many of our elderly population live alone; their dwindling social circle (oftentimes due to death and sometimes due to relocation) and decreased mobility (due to illnesses or loss of their drivers license) increase the amount of time that they spend alone

>a reduced “sense of purpose” - due to the reduced ability to do everyday tasks, many elderly individuals feel as though they’re not really doing anything. (I know young adults who feel this way directly out of college.) A life of purposelessness can really wear on an individual (of any age) and cause them to feel depressed.

>issues with health problems - illness, disability, chronic pain, severe pain, cognitive declines and body image disturbances (due to surgery or disease) can all lead to feelings of depression

>medications - many prescription drugs can lead to depression, sometimes triggering, not just
increasing already low-levels of depression

>being afraid - fear of death and dying, anxiety over financial problems and worries over current (or possible) health issues can increase an elderly individuals susceptibility for depression

>recent (and close) bereavement - as we age, more and more people we know are dying near us. This “nearby” deaths can definitely drive a person to feeling down and depressed.

mental and emotional health, depression, elderly depression, causes of depression in the elderly

Continuing with my overview of depression in the elderly population, today I’d like to finish that up and then as the week progresses, we will address the causes of elderly depression along with signs & symptoms, treatments, what to do if you know a depressed elderly person, self-help for the elderly with depression and then a brief bit on dementia and Alzheimer’s and their impact on depression in the elderly.

Like I said in my previous entries on depression in the elderly, 2 million of the 35 million elderly (”elderly” is considered to be the population above 65 years old) live with full-blown depression, but a only a very small percentage get the help that they need. Many people assume (and we all know what happens when we assume) that seniors have a good reason to be depressed, or, because it is rather common, that the depression is a natural stage in aging. Isolation also leads to the lack of recognition with elderly depression. Oftentimes, physicians will concentrate solely on physical, rather than mental or emotional ailments when the elderly are at the their regular appointments. On top of all this, many depressed seniors don’t talk about their feelings or ask for help.

There are serious risks for older adults who leave their depression untreated. Physical illnesses, alcohol and prescription drug dependence (self-medicating), a higher than average mortality rate and it can even lead to suicide. It is incredibly important to watch for the warning signs & symptoms of depression and get professional help as soon as it’s noticed. With this attention, support and treatment, depressed seniors can feel better! “No one, whether they’re 18 or 80, has to live with depression.”

mental and emotional health, elderly depression, depression

Last week I mentioned that I was going to do a series on depression in the elderly population, and I’m just now getting around to it!

Many elderly individuals experience the death of a spouse, medical problems, financial troubles, and these things can all lead to depression, and lead to higher rates of depression in those who don’t have a strong support network (friends, family, coworkers even) surrounding them. This depression, however, is not a normal (or required) part of aging; in fact, more seniors (as it is with other humans) are happy with their lives even throughout big changes and troubles.

If you allow this elderly depression alone, it may prevent your grams from enjoying the life that she could have, and it’s proven to take a serious toll on grandpa’s physical health as well. However, if you learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly population and then learn to help someone effectively, you may find your life (or your loved one’s life) remaining bright and cheery until the end!

Depression is a problem for many older adults and it seems to be mainly due to loss; a loss of independence, a loss of mobility, a loss of health, a loss of your life-long career and even a loss of someone you love. With these losses, it’s normal to feel sad, and even if the feelings of sadness last for months, it is considered normal. However, if you lose all hope and all joy, it’s not normal; it’s depression.

When I say “many adults,” I mean 2 million. 2 million (of the 35 million) Americans over the age of 65 live with full-blown depression according to the National Institute of Health. On top of that, there are 5 million elderly individuals who live with a less severe (half-blown?) form of the illness.

mental & emotional health, elderly depression, depression

Continuing yesterday’s post about 15 factors that can influence your osteoporosis risk, I’d like to leave you with the rest of the list. Later I will address depression in the elderly in more depth!

7. fractured a bone as an adult - simple actions (stepping off the curb too hard) can lead to early fractures

8. calcium intake - if your calcium intake is chronically low, this is a problem; for adolescents it’s especially important to get enough to reach their genetic potential for peak bone mass

9. physical activity - weight bearing activity increases your bone mass, you can increase your bone mass with training. It takes a an increase in bone mass density of 3-5% to decrease your fracture rate by 20-30%, but a +/- 5% bone mass change is huge.

10. protein - there is a link here still being studied, but it has been shown before that an increase in protein shows there may be a loss of calcium in your urine.

11. alcohol & smoking – can decrease your bone mass

12. excess caffeine – caffeine in very high doses increases your calcium loss in urine

13. medication can weaken bones – steroids, anticonvulsants, synthetic thyroid hormones, and antidepressants

14. vitamin D – is absolutely necessary for calcium absorption. Sunlight will increase the manufacture of vitamin D in your body (10-15 minutes a day on face & arms WITHOUT sunscreen). Homebound people, persons over the age of 70, those living in the northern US/Canada and people who don’t eat enough dairy or vitamin D supplemented foods are recommended to supplement with tablets.

15. vitamin K – helps blood coagulate and is needed for the beginning of bone mineralization

I have elderly family members who deal with depression due in part to physical ailments. Today I’d like to address a big depression cause in elderly that not many people think about osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease of low bone mass characterized by weakened and porous bones that have an increased risk of fracture.

* peak bone mass is reached at about 30-years-old
* women lose about 30-50% of their bone mass while men lose 20-30%
* 1/6 of women will fracture a hip in their lifetime
* Most common fracture sites are wrist, hip & vertebrae
* 20% of individuals (mostly male) will die within a year from fracture related complications - a lot of this is due to becoming depressed once you’re unable to function at your previous ability. These 20% are oftentimes elderly suicide deaths.
* 60% of falls occur in the home

There are 15 factors that may effect your bone mass:
1. gender - women have a higher risk as men have stronger bones and more base bone mass overall

2. age - over the age of 65 your risk increases, bone loss is gradual but for women, it speeds up during menopause, the full effects are felt later in life, even though they begin early-on

3. early menopause (or long periods of ammenorrhea) - menopause depletes your stores of estrogen, without estrogen, osteoclasts (holes dug in your bones) are more active than the osteoblasts (refilling of those bone holes), testosterone decrease also effects men’s bone mass

4. frame size - thin, small-framed body generally means you have a lower peak bone mass

5. ethnicity - African Americans normally have a heavier skeleton therefore a higher peak bone mass, Caucasian & Asians have a lower bone density

6. family history - especially if it’s a mom/dad/sibling with history of fractures