Question:
Is it possible depression is one of the causes of Alzheimer's/dementia?

I'm just wondering cuz several of my clients who have Alzheimer's/dementia have lost their spouses and/or children not long before they started showing symptoms and had to be placed in a home. Some people I have seen who already had it declined rapidly after losing a loved one.

Can anyone give me some suggestions???

Answer: Alzheimer's or depression: Could it be both?Early Alzheimer's and depression share many symptoms, so it can be difficult even for doctors to distinguish between the two disorders. And, not surprisingly, many people with Alzheimer's also are depressed.

In fact, new studies have linked depression and Alzheimer's. People with a history of clinical depression also have an increased risk of eventually developing Alzheimer's.

Similar symptomsIn addition to sadness, depression causes loss of interest in once-enjoyable activities and hobbies. This also happens in Alzheimer's. Social and emotional withdrawal is common in both conditions, as are impaired memory and concentration.

As Alzheimer's disease progresses, communication skills break down. As a result, depression becomes even harder to recognize. Many people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease lack both the insight and the vocabulary to express how they feel or even to accurately answer direct questions about their symptoms.