Contrary to popular belief that older people are happier than younger people, this new study published in the medical journal Psychology and Aging highlights the fact that depression would largely affect people aged 60 to over 85. It also reveals that the means of support put in place are not adapted to the extent of the suffering, the pain management of this population.
Researchers from the University of Bradford University (UK) carried out a study with 2,087 elderly participants, on average 79 years old and 65 to 103 years old, whose evolution of depressive symptoms was followed on over 15 years.
The findings of the study showed that the depression was high in older people witharthritis. It also reveals that depression is therefore mainly due to the level of physical incapacity, the development of chronic diseases, and the approach of death and that depressive syndromes increase with age more markedly in men than in women. women.
Scientists have also found that in middle age, these symptoms are higher in women, but in men they increase at a faster rate thereafter. Thus, the difference between the sexes is reversed around the age of 80 years.
“Depressive symptoms continue to increase throughout old age and this growing need for mental health support and pain management needs to be addressed,” the study authors conclude.
Protect against depression
Seniors could protect themselves from depression by increasing human contact with family and friends, according to the results of a study published in October 2015 in the medical journal Journal of the American Geriatricss. Indeed, nothing beats human contact to reduce the risk of depression. Lunch with the family, picnics with friends, outings with the grandchildren… Seniors who multiply their social relationships have high morale and half the risk of depression than those who only receive shots. wires, emails or Skype calls.
Read also:
Physical activity would be good for memory
Senior: the first warning signs of loss of autonomy
For seniors, happiness is (above all) health
