Page 9 - Seniorstoday August-2023 Issue
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men to experience depression. Some
studies show that one-third of women will
experience a major depressive episode in
their lifetime.
Possible factors include the following:
Greater exposure to, heightened response
to or inability to cope with daily stresses.
Higher levels of monoamine oxidase (the Stressful life events: Tough experiences,
enzyme that degrades neurotransmitters such as the passing of a loved one, trauma-
considered important for mood). physical or mental, divorce, isolation
and lack of support, can trigger clinical
Higher rates of thyroid dysfunction. depression in people; however, such events
Endocrine changes that occur with do not usually because lasting, severe
menstruation and at menopause. depression except in people predisposed to
FAMILIAL There is a high degree of a mood disorder.
heritability (approximately 40%) when At the end of the day, Depression can
first-degree relatives (parents/children/ affect anyone—even a person who appears
siblings) have depression. to live in relatively ideal circumstances.
Genetics: Depression can run in families.
For example, if one identical twin has What happens?
depression, the other has a 70 percent Depression probably causes changes in the
chance of having the illness sometime areas of the brain that control mood. Nerve
in life. It could make you almost three cells may function poorly in certain regions
times as likely to develop the condition as of the brain; Miscommunication between
someone without a family history of the nerve cells or nerve circuits can make it
condition. harder for a person to regulate mood.
However, you can have clinical It could be caused by an imbalance of
depression without a family history of it. neurotransmitters, including serotonin,
PersonalitY: People with low self- norepinephrine and dopamine. While
esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by initially they were thought to be a
stress, or who are generally vulnerable or primary issue, recent theories suggest
pessimistic are more likely to experience that disturbances in more complex neural
depression. circuits cause secondary imbalances
Environmental factors: Continuous of neurotransmitters, including
exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or abnormal regulation of cholinergic,
poverty may make some people more catecholaminergic (noradrenergic or
vulnerable to depression. dopaminergic), glutamatergic, and
Childhood development: Multiple serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine)
adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) neurotransmission
such as abuse and trauma are associated Hormonal changes may also negatively
with the development of clinical affect mood. An individual’s life experience
depression later in life. affects these biological processes.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #50 | AUGUST 2023 7
