Older and depressed? How to avoid or manage depression
There are around 56 million folks age 65 and older in the U.S., and it's heartbreaking to think that around 14 million of them report some degree of depression, especially if they require home health care.
The consequences are far-reaching. Depression in older folks causes epigenetic changes to genes (turning them on or off) that increase body-wide inflammation, accelerate biological aging and impair cognition, according to a study in Nature. It has also led to a 13% increase in intentional overdoses, mostly from opioids, in the past 20 years.
If you're over 65 and feeling blue, talk to a therapist and discuss medication if appropriate, make sure to get exercise daily (anything from chair yoga to walking and pickleball), establish a sleep schedule (for help, see a sleep specialist), make an effort to build a posse or increase your interaction with yours, volunteer to help others, and pursue a hobby. Each step is proven to help raise your spirits.
If you have a loved one who seems depressed, you can help them by enlisting friends and family to interact frequently with them through phone calls and visits, helping them join support groups and cultivate a hobby, and talking to their doctor about getting "social prescribing." The Cleveland Clinic has found that having an Rx for interacting with others is a very effective way to help seniors overcome loneliness, isolation and depression.
For more tips, sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com and read "Depression: Symptoms + 5 Natural Approaches to Fight It" at iHerb.com/blog.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Comments