There may be various connections between dementia and depression, depending on the patient and type of illness. Sometimes depression is a symptom of dementia, while other times it may be a natural reaction or side effect of the condition. In either event, proper treatment is key to recovery so that patients can make the most of their remaining healthy months or years.
In some disorders, dementia and depression feed off of one another. Some types of dementia cause depression as a medical side effect which may come as a result of changing brain chemistry during the degeneration process. This can lead to mood swings, sadness, loss of interest, and changes in personality. Sometimes these symptoms can be treated with medication, but in most diseases, brain damage cannot be reversed and may not be helped after a certain point.
Other times dementia and depression occur together even before cognitive decline because the patient realizes that he or she is ill, possibly fatally. This is a natural and reasonable reaction to being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. Patients may be treated using therapy, antidepressants, or a combination of both. Many times, when patients are allowed to discuss their feelings of helplessness, anger, or sadness, they are able to better handle their diagnoses.
To help combat dementia and depression symptoms, patients are generally encouraged to continue doing the things they love until they are no longer able. Staying active, eating a healthy diet, and spending time with loved ones are all good ways to keep depression at bay. Once cognitive decline has begun, new medications may be available to reduce the symptoms and personality changes, although this is not true for all patients with all conditions.
There are also nutritional options which may promote brain health and even slow down the onset of dementia and depression. Curry and turmeric, for example, have been shown in some studies to prevent symptoms of dementia and it is thought that it may be able to help slow down or even reverse damage to brain cells. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to help heal the “emotional brain” by repairing damaged receptors so that chemicals can be adequately received and interpreted.
