Are There Any Medical Conditions That Can Cause Depression In Seniors?

Dr. Barry Rovner answers the question: 'Geriatric Conditions And Depression?'

ByABC News
February 27, 2008, 5:39 PM

— -- Question: Are there any medical conditions that can cause depression in seniors?

Answer: A variety of medical conditions are associated with depression. Older people can become depressed with they have heart disease, cancer, diabetes, problems with their kidneys. But of themselves those diseases don't cause depression -- it's more the disability that those diseases induce that lead to depression. Although there are some brain damaged conditions such as stroke, or Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's disease that directly can cause depression.

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