Attempting to differentiate dementia vs. depression can be highly challenging, especially, as reported by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, as 40% of those with Alzheimer's also experience depression alongside their decline. Understanding whether a memory lapse comes from this progression or if mood shifts interfere with diagnosis is also extremely difficult.
Read on to learn how to break down the patterns you might see in a loved one and how to track their awareness levels. Then, understand some of the local resources available so that you can take your next steps. For example, Bell Oaks Place Assisted Living in Newburgh, IN, may be able to offer the help you might need, whether that be via directing you to external assessments, outside support, or other programs.
When caring for a loved one, or if you are concerned about your own future, you may want to know the specific differences between these terms. After all, aging and emotions go hand-in-hand, and mislabeling cognitive decline as a mood swing, or vice versa, could delay any memory support or emotional care that someone deserves. Studies estimate that 2%-32% of older adults with memory or cognitive issues even have a form of overlapping problems called "pseudodementia", which is an impairment caused by depression, rather than a true neurodegenerative issue.
Recognizing the exact nature of an issue can reduce the amount of frustration that both seniors and caregivers feel, and Bell Oaks Place understands this, helping all in residence there have an opportunity to avoid such difficulties. We can help you recognize and understand these issues and provide support on how to respond to them.
Dementia usually tends to appear not over a few days or weeks, but instead months and even years. It starts with minor issues, such as short-term memory loss, and then grows from there.
Alzheimer's sufferers, for example, start by having trouble recalling events that may have happened that same day. Over time, it may begin to affect language and executive function, requiring people to have daily help to continue enjoying connections with others.
Depression, on the other hand, instead appears faster, and can have a specific trigger following a life change or sudden stressor, such as a bereavement or increasing social isolation from friends and family.
Episodes of depression can also increase or decrease, with them seasonally worsening or abating depending on:
When a person has had repeated problems, these issues may appear due to something as simple as a bad morning or a difficult conversation. So, having support to monitor a loved one carefully can be very important.
When an individual suffers from dementia, they may not notice they are experiencing a memory deficit. In many cases, they may appear to "make up" facts or links between events to mask gaps in their memory and make sense of the world around them. As such, it can be challenging to determine if someone is experiencing these unless someone sees them firsthand.
Seniors with Depression usually recognize their memory lapses, and in doing so, will appear concerned or even frustrated. In many cases, they may recall more details about the event when prompted, as they may not have concentrated fully during a conversation.
Try to observe how consistent an individual's self-reporting is during conversations, as this can reveal the direction their cognition is taking. The staff at Bell Oaks Place has training in recognizing these differences and educating residents on how to support and self-report these issues, if possible.
Both dementia and depression can lead to difficulties with someone's ability to recall things like:
When someone finds remembering these challenging, it can easily disturb their mood or even cause significant irritability. However, these overlapping reactions can come from very different thought processes and residents' histories.
Dementia, for example, presents as an impaired ability to plan or problem solve. It can also easily lead to difficulties finding the right words during a conversation. These can lead to personal frustrations and, if a person needs additional help with emotions, can result in an outburst.
Depression can, instead, show as issues with mental processing speed, albeit with the full ability to reason when given an opportunity. Their cognition is not impaired, and they can often still come to the correct conclusions, although a little slower.
Knowing which of these a person is experiencing can help the staff at a location such as Bell Oaks Place to offer support via mood programs, as well as emotional regulation training or other assistance.
Many methods exist to evaluate senior mental health, showing whether they are likely to be experiencing dementia, depression, or even both. For example:
Combining these during a screening ensures a more thorough evaluation of senior wellness. Bell Oaks can make recommendations about locations that can help with this.
As, on average, a person lives for around eight years after the first Alzheimer's disease symptoms appear, offering support faster can mean a person experiences those years to a much higher quality. So, asking for help should come as fast as possible.
Recognizing whether a person has dementia vs. depression can help direct someone to the right location for help. Bell Oaks Place Assisted Living in Newburgh can help guide you to the assistance you need. Our staff recognize many of the early signs and can help you so that you can talk to a specialist when necessary.
Families rely on guidance and local resources to help them at such a point. So, contact us to discover how our community can help you support your loved one and ensure their path through life is as comfortable as possible.