Recognizing and Combating Depression in Older Adults

Let's face it, life throws curveballs. A bad day, a lost job, a fight with a loved one – these things can leave us feeling down. But when that down feeling stretches on for weeks, months, even years, morphing into a persistent lack of energy, pleasure, and hope, then it's time to pause and consider a more serious culprit: major depression.

This becomes especially crucial for our older population, as a recent study by Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography paints a concerning picture. The prevalence of depressive symptoms skyrocketed in adults over 60 who battled COVID-19. We're talking about a jump from 26.4% in 2018 to a staggering 35.5% in 2021. Loneliness followed a similar trajectory, with a 4.4 percentage point increase among those who contracted the virus.