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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by llurpsienoodle on April 14, 2008, at 8:01:06
My elderly relatives seem to be prone to a very deep depression. Two of them are taking lexapro. Are there any drugs that have been shown to be effective and safe for the elderly?
(They are in their 80's)
Perhaps there is something to genetics afterall...
let's see. depression for 3 generations...
-Ll
Posted by Phillipa on April 14, 2008, at 10:23:49
In reply to depression in the elderly, posted by llurpsienoodle on April 14, 2008, at 8:01:06
Li hey I'm getting there. Smaller doses I think and my relatives all had horrific anxiety and took meds. Love Phillipa
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 17, 2008, at 10:10:43
In reply to depression in the elderly, posted by llurpsienoodle on April 14, 2008, at 8:01:06
Are the medications helping them?
It's great that someone recognized the symptoms.
I am seeing more relatives being prescribed low dose Prozac with cancer and chronic illnesses now.
The Prozac didn't agree with one of my relatives. It made him more agitated. He was a WWII vet with PTSD. He did better with Ativan as needed. It made a world a difference in his last years.
Posted by llurpsienoodle on April 17, 2008, at 10:26:42
In reply to Re: depression in the elderly, posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 17, 2008, at 10:10:43
I was reading an article in the Psychiatric Times about how depression in the elderly is positively correlated with development of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Also depression in the elderly is frequently accompanied by cognitive deficits. I know as a 27 year old, my depression was definitely accompanied by reduced attention and memory, as well as executive functioning - concentration and planning.
The article talked about differential diagnosis between early alzheimers and depression. I don't have the list in front of me, but here are the points that I remember
Depression: first episode usually prior to age 60.
AD: onset prior to 60 fairly rare.Depression: remissions
AD: progressive degeneration of functionDepression: subjective overestimate of cognitive deficits.
AD: subjective underestimate/ anosagnosia of cognitive deficitsDepression: changes in performance on particular cognitive tests- cognitive slowing
AD: no changes in the particular tests, no evidence for slow processing.Depression: changes in mood congruent with sadness, flat affect, loss of interest, etc.
AD: changes in mood typically manifest by increased agitation and low tolerance for frustration.I hope that the pdocs can figure out how to best treat this growing segment of the population.
_ll
Posted by undopaminergic on April 18, 2008, at 5:41:31
In reply to depression prodromal for alzheimer's disease, posted by llurpsienoodle on April 17, 2008, at 10:26:42
> I was reading an article in the Psychiatric Times about how depression in the elderly is positively correlated with development of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
>And Parkinson's disease (PD), too. Depressive-like symptoms, such as anhedonia, social withdrawal and lack of motivation, may be noticed many years before the onset of motor symptoms (tremor, rigidity, etc.). If I recall correctly, about 80% of dopaminergic neurons will be destroyed by the time PD becomes evident.
This is particularly intesting for those of us who respond better to dopaminergic than serotonergic or noradrenergic medications...
> Also depression in the elderly is frequently accompanied by cognitive deficits. I know as a 27 year old, my depression was definitely accompanied by reduced attention and memory, as well as executive functioning - concentration and planning.
>Yes, I definitely noticed that too, and I was only 22 (now 30). Although I may have had ADD long before, it wasn't a really serious problem until after the onset of depression.
This is the end of the thread.
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