Does Depression Cause Memory Loss in Seniors?

Midwest City, part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, is a senior-friendly haven offering affordability, high quality of life, and many outdoor opportunities. No wonder the city's 65+ population is pretty big! The latest U.S. Census Bureau data shows that of the 58,086 people living here, 17.1% are 65 or older.

However, as the city's senior population grows, so does the concern about memory loss, which age and depression can contribute to.

But exactly how does depression cause memory loss? What does "depression" even mean in clinical terms? Most importantly, are these conditions preventable or manageable?

The team at Morada Midwest City, our senior living community in Midwest City, OK, created this guide shedding light on what memory issues and aging have to do with senior mental health. Please read on to discover insights and tips for improving cognitive and emotional health in seniors.

What Is Depression in Elderly Adults?

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent or long-lasting feelings of:

Sadness
Loneliness
Hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities

While it's not a typical part of aging, depression is prevalent among older American adults. Indeed, it's among the top 10 most common chronic conditions, ranking ninth and affecting 16% of the senior population, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA). It's even more common than Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia, which rank 10th on the list and impact 12% of older adults.

Does Depression Cause Memory Loss?

Yes.

Depression can cause memory problems and other cognitive issues in seniors. For example, Healthline says that depression can lead to a cognitive dysfunction called brain fog.

Brain fog can cause the following signs and symptoms to manifest:

Memory challenges, including problems remembering what you wanted to do or where you put things
Attention-related concerns, such as difficulty following conversations and completing thoughts or sentences
Problems with executive functioning, like struggling with decision-making or multi-tasking
Delayed reaction times, such as taking much more time than usual to complete tasks

All those cognitive and memory-related problems can result in an older adult feeling even more depressed.

How Does Depression Cause Memory Loss?

According to an article from Penn Medicine News, researchers discovered evidence pointing towards an increased likelihood of people diagnosed with depression getting a dementia diagnosis in their older years.

However, the study's researchers also state that the exact ways in which depression causes or increases dementia risks later on are still unclear. What they do know is that memory loss is a key symptom of dementia.

In another study that Medical News Today cited and wrote about, researchers found the following connections between memory loss and depression:

Memory loss aggravates depression
Depression worsens memory loss
Accelerated memory loss in those with severe depressive symptoms
More severe symptoms of depression in those with more significant memory loss

The study's authors say that the link seems to be due to a decrease in the brain's frontal lobe activity, an occurrence common in individuals with depression. In addition, the brain appears to have a reduced ability to hold and store things in its working memory, which could help explain why memory loss can lead to depression and vice versa.

Are Depression and Memory Loss Preventable?

Depression and memory loss aren't 100% preventable. The good news is that many tools, resources, and strategies can help everyone, including older adults in Midwest City, OK, to minimize their risks of developing these conditions or, at the very least, manage them and still live life to the fullest.

Here are some of the top strategies for combating depression and memory loss.

Seeking Social and Cognitive Support

Older adults with depression, memory loss, or both have a higher risk of isolating themselves and withdrawing from life. Unfortunately, doing so may only worsen things, as it can result in loneliness and social isolation.

According to the U.S. CDC, loneliness and isolation can heighten a person's risk for:

Depression and anxiety
Dementia
Heart disease
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes

So, seniors should prioritize socialization as much as possible. Doing so can help improve their mood and combat loneliness and isolation.

Staying connected with family and friends also stimulates the brain. The more stimulated and active the brain is, the better it can process and recall information.

Engaging in Fun and Brain-Boosting Activities and Events

Another effective way seniors can combat or manage mental and cognitive health woes is by participating in fun, recreational, and physical activities and events. Doing these can stimulate the brain (and body), which can then improve neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to control its neural networks. Neural networks are groups of interconnected neurons that transmit signals to one another. The better the brain's neuroplasticity, the better it can be at:

Learning new things
Improving or maintaining cognitive capabilities
Recovering lost areas of the brain
Strengthening declining areas of the brain
Augmenting brain fitness

In addition, senior-friendly activities and events promote recreation and socialization, which, as mentioned above, can help alleviate depression symptoms.

At Morada Midwest City, we carefully plan a calendar of daily activities and events for the residents of our Midwest City senior living community. We make sure they have plenty of fun and stimulating things to do here, including but not limited to:

Exercise programs
Rousing group games
Educational programs and intellectual classes
Themed parties

We also have beautiful, well-maintained outdoor spaces that our seniors can enjoy relaxing and socializing in. Nature time is excellent for improving moods, which can then help ease stress and depressive symptoms.

Don't Let Depression and Memory Loss Lower Your Quality of Life

As you learned in this guide, the answer to the question, "Does depression cause memory loss?" is yes. However, that doesn't mean all seniors will get depression or memory loss, as there are ways to minimize the risks of developing them. It's also possible to manage their symptoms by seeking mental and cognitive support, socializing, and stimulating the brain and body through fun, engaging activities.

Morada Midwest City, our beautiful and highly rated senior living community, offers compassionate, personalized care for seniors seeking assisted living in Midwest City, OK. Here, expect spacious, pet-friendly apartment homes, quality dining, and many on-site amenities, including daily activities, a movie theater, and a fitness center.

Call us today to book a tour of our community!