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depression prodromal for alzheimer's disease

Posted by llurpsienoodle on April 17, 2008, at 10:26:42

In reply to Re: depression in the elderly, posted by Shadowplayers721 on April 17, 2008, at 10:10:43

I was reading an article in the Psychiatric Times about how depression in the elderly is positively correlated with development of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Also depression in the elderly is frequently accompanied by cognitive deficits. I know as a 27 year old, my depression was definitely accompanied by reduced attention and memory, as well as executive functioning - concentration and planning.

The article talked about differential diagnosis between early alzheimers and depression. I don't have the list in front of me, but here are the points that I remember

Depression: first episode usually prior to age 60.
AD: onset prior to 60 fairly rare.

Depression: remissions
AD: progressive degeneration of function

Depression: subjective overestimate of cognitive deficits.
AD: subjective underestimate/ anosagnosia of cognitive deficits

Depression: changes in performance on particular cognitive tests- cognitive slowing
AD: no changes in the particular tests, no evidence for slow processing.

Depression: changes in mood congruent with sadness, flat affect, loss of interest, etc.
AD: changes in mood typically manifest by increased agitation and low tolerance for frustration.

I hope that the pdocs can figure out how to best treat this growing segment of the population.

_ll


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poster:llurpsienoodle thread:823203
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080412/msgs/823776.html