Depression, Anxiety and Stress Can Cause Dementia

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Along with the proper diet, exercise, seven or more hours of quality sleep, and an active social calendar, I have learned in my Brain Health class that it is important to deal with depression, anxiety and stress in order to avoid dementia. The symptoms of depression in an older adult may be difficult to diagnose. While a younger adult may be visibly sad, seem agitated or have angry outbursts, an older adult may have these symptoms: Slow thinking, memory difficulties or personality changes Complaints about physical aches and pains Unexplained fatigue Loss of appetite Sleep problems Tendency to isolate ... the desire to stay at home Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in older men The symptoms can be complicated if the person is self-medicating with alcohol or the overuse of drugs. What to do if you or the older adults in your family experience the above symptoms: Do not wait to see what happens; see a doctor as soon as possible. Ask the doctor to rule out any medical explanation for the symptoms. Anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication can make a major difference. Therapists can also help, especially in combination with the medications. In addition, a depressed or anxious person may benefit from hobbies they enjoy, getting a pet, learning relaxation techniques to reduce stress, taking yoga, or trying mindful meditation. If you hope to avoid having dementia as you age, you need to take care of yourself in all aspects of your life, including dealing with your stress, depression or anxiety. (This is part of a series of articles I have been doing based on information from a class I have been taking on brain health. All the articles have the same graphic of a blue brain at the top, to make it easier for you to read them all.)