NIH Radio
Depression Topic Added to NIH Senior Health Website
Brief Description:
The website www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov has added depression to its list of health topics.
Transcript:
Schmalfeldt: It's a common misperception that depression is just another part of getting older.
Insel: A lot of people think that. It turns out actually turns out, though, being older means that you're losing friends and family members. Depression is something quite different, and it is not — by any means — a natural part of getting older. Depression in an older person is a reason for treatment. It's a reason for seeking help.
Schmalfeldt: That was Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. He said that important life changes we make as we get older can cause feelings of uneasiness, stress and sadness — for instance the death of a loved one, moving from work into retirement, or dealing with a serious illness. These things can leave one feeling sad or anxious. But most older adults, after a period of adjustment, regain their emotional balance. Yet some do not. Insel: Depression sometimes occurs for the first time in people as they get older and what people don't realize is that this is a real disorder with medical consequences, and it's treatable.
Schmalfeldt: About two million Americans age 65 or older suffer from major depression; another five million suffer — but not to such a severe degree. The website, www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov, has added depression to its list of health topics. The senior-friendly website is a joint effort of the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Bill Schmalfeldt in Bethesda, Maryland.
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