Old age depression—a biological inevitability?

Attitudes within our society have for centuries equated old age with a general decline in quality of life, and more specifically old age and its sequelae have been likened to depression. There is some evidence to suggest that ageing may render the brain more susceptible to react in a way that is associated with depression according to current theory. Perhaps surprisingly, epidemiological studies indicate that depression is probably about as common in old age as it is in earlier years. There is less of a familial element to aetiology in late onset depression and perhaps the biological changes associated with ageing make up for this and thus maintain prevalence rates. There is evidence from a community survey that depression associated with cardiovascular disease is less likely to be associated with a major life event in the year prior to onset; a genuine endogenous/reactive dichotomy is suggested for late onset depression in old age.