New research shines a light on the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the mental health of older adults.
The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging studied 3,000 community-dwelling adults over age 60 during three year-long waves: 2016, 2018 and 2020. Researchers found the prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms averaged 7.2% during the first two waves, but increased to nearly 20% in 2020 during the pandemic. The study found the symptoms of depression were less for seniors who lived with someone else.
Symptoms of depression can include anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in daily life and difficulty making decisions. The researchers said even a small increase in late-life depression can have major implications for healthcare systems.
