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Related Experiment Videos

Does growing old increase the risk for depression?

R E Roberts1, G A Kaplan, S J Shema

  • 1University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center School of Public Health, USA. RERoberts@utsph.sph.uth.tme.edu

The American Journal of Psychiatry
|October 27, 1997
PubMed
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Aging does not increase depression risk in healthy older adults. Instead, physical health problems and functional impairment are the main drivers of depression in this population, not age itself.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Psychiatry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cross-sectional studies suggest age is a risk factor for depression.
  • Prospective data on aging and depression rates are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively examine the relationship between aging and depression rates in older adults.
  • To identify risk factors for depression in aging populations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized two waves of data (1994, 1995) from the Alameda County Study, a panel study of community residents aged 50+.
  • Assessed major depressive episodes using DSM-IV criteria and examined various psychosocial factors including health, functional status, and social support.
  • Controlled for age, gender, marital status, education, financial strain, chronic medical conditions, functional impairment, cognitive problems, life events, neighborhood problems, social isolation, and social support.

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Main Results:

  • Point prevalence of major depressive episodes was consistent between 1994 (8.7%) and 1995 (9.0%).
  • While older age groups (60+ and 80+) showed a tendency toward higher prevalence, multivariate analyses revealed no significant independent effect of age on depression.
  • Chronic health problems and functional impairment were identified as the primary factors mediating the apparent age-related effects on depression.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy, normally functioning older adults are not at increased risk for depression compared to younger adults.
  • Apparent age-related increases in depression are largely attributable to physical health problems and associated functional disability.
  • Factors such as gender, chronic health conditions, functional impairment, cognitive issues, neighborhood problems, and social isolation are significant predictors of future depression.