Depression vs Dementia: The Relationship & Difference

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Dementia results in decline in an individual's cognitive function, and the risk increases after age 65. The disease affects a person's memory, attention, and ability to use language. It can also change the senior's mood and result in more significant mental health problems, such as depression. Depression becomes more prevalent in seniors with dementia when they start losing their memories, capacity to perform daily tasks, and ability to socialize.

Dementia and depression go hand-in-hand and are sometimes confused with one another. Experts estimate that up to 40 percent of individuals with Alzheimer's disease – the most common form of dementia – suffer from significant depression. A common question that often arises when understanding the complex relationship between the two conditions is, why is depression often mistaken for dementia?

The key to understanding dementia vs depression and their co-relation is educating yourself about the two conditions. SageCare offers specialized care for dementia and the necessary resources to help families understand what their loved one with dementia might be experiencing.

Shared Symptoms of Dementia and Depression

Seniors with depression and dementia often experience different symptoms that make it easy to identify their condition. However, they may also go through similar symptoms that make it challenging to understand if they have dementia or depression.

Understanding the shared symptoms of the two conditions and comparing them to their symptoms may help you determine the best way to help your loved one. Keep an eye out for dementia symptoms that overlap with depression symptoms.

Feeling Helpless

Feelings of helplessness are common when an individual has dementia or depression. When seniors with dementia have trouble performing daily tasks alone, they may feel helpless. They must rely on others to dress, bathe, or take medication.

Individuals with depression may feel helpless when they cannot control their emotions. Many emotions or reactions to situations come from traumatic experiences. When seniors feel upset, agitated, or hopeless and cannot control their emotions, they may feel helpless.

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Loss of Interest in Activities & Hobbies

It is not uncommon for seniors with dementia or depression to lose interest in activities or hobbies they previously enjoyed. The change in their brain structure and thinking process can shift their focus, leading to a lack of interest in their favourite activities or hobbies. Depending on their individual states, some people may prefer to spend time alone or sleep.

Isolation from Friends & Family

A common trait in individuals with dementia and depression is their feeling to withdraw socially. In both cases, the person living with the disease may prefer to spend time alone as it is difficult for them to communicate with others or express their feelings.

Certain social conditions, such as excessive noise or a crowded room, may also be triggers for people with dementia or depression, leading to isolation from friends and family.

Easily Irritated or Agitated

Whether your loved one has dementia or depression, they may face difficulties communicating their feelings. This can lead to irritation or agitation, which may result in outbursts. This is more common among seniors with dementia but can also happen when an individual is depressed.

The critical difference between a person's reaction when they have depression vs dementia is that the individual with dementia may not be able to control their feelings of irritation. For instance, if they feel annoyed when they cannot tell people they need to go to the bathroom or want to remember a person's name, it's common for them to feel distressed. The best thing you can do in this case is to learn about the different dementia symptoms to offer relevant support.

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Differentiating Between Dementia and Depression

Dementia and depression share similar traits, leading to confusion between the two conditions. It's important to understand why is depression often mistaken for dementia when attempting to differentiate between the two. Here are a few ways you can differentiate between dementia vs depression.

Think About Timeline of Changes

According to Harvard Health Publishing, "decline in mental functioning tends to be more rapid with depression than with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia." So, when you want to differentiate between depression and dementia, think about how long it has been since your loved one has been displaying different behaviour. It can be helpful to reach out to a doctor to confirm any suspicions and get to the root cause of the behaviour.

Identify All Symptoms

Although some similar dementia and depression symptoms are mentioned above, other symptoms can also vary. People with depression aren't typically disoriented as people with dementia are likely to be. If your loved one is displaying dementia symptoms, you need to learn the right strategies to help them, which includes understanding and managing dementia behaviours for their betterment.

Consider Their Awareness

A common difference between individuals with depression vs dementia is their awareness of the situation. If the disease affects their memory, individuals with depression will likely notice and point this change to their caregivers or doctor. However, people with dementia may not realize they are undergoing this change.

Treatments for Depression and Dementia

Although there is no single treatment for dementia and depression, you can do a few things to help people living with both conditions.

Medication

Dementia and depression require entirely different kinds of medication. Some people might suffer from both, so they may have to take two different kinds of medication. The effect of medicines can also vary among individuals with dementia vs depression as the doses can vary. In both cases, it's important for the individual to diligently take the medication to be effective.

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Professional Assistance

People with dementia and depression need professional assistance to improve their mental and physical health. However, the form of professional assistance can vary. Someone who only has depression may need to talk to a counsellor or therapist. On the other hand, an individual who has only dementia or depression and dementia may need to consult a therapist and memory caregiver.

If your loved one needs memory care support, SageCare is here to help. Our care home offers specialized support for elders with dementia to help them live healthy and peaceful life. We offer a range of activities that keep seniors engaged and ensure that each individual receives a personalized care approach according to their needs.

Family Support

Nothing is more important than family support, whether your loved one is living with dementia or depression. It would help to let your parent, partner, or grandparent know you are here to offer the support they need. This involves more than just communicating with them and hearing their thoughts. You also need to convince them to receive medical help, take their medication, and participate in social activities to keep their minds engaged and occupied.