As discussed last week, depression is frequent in both community dwelling elders (by most standards those over 55) and those with dementia. Depression is more likely in dementias due to either vascular disease (strokes) or Lewy body disease than in Alzheimer’s disease (maybe there’s a benefit to short term memory loss). In short, depression is a common but not inevitable outcome for all of us as we age. What are the best treatments for depression? How well do different treatments work for those who are demented as well as for those who are not? Medications in the class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, and Paxil are the most common medical treatment for depression. However, they are not a panacea – especially in the elderly and those who are demented. A large portion of […]