Late-life depression refers to a depressive syndrome occurring in people older than age 65 years. The cut-off age is arbitrary and the condition is heterogeneous in terms of clinical features and coexisting medical disorders. As the population ages, the number of older people with depression is expected to increase and depression is predicted to become the leading cause of disease burden in middle and higher income countries by year 2030. In Australia, 10-15% of community dwelling older people experience depression and the prevalence can be as high as 35% in nursing home residents. Prevalence of late-life depression is higher in hospital settings compared to primary care. Older women are affected by depression twice as many as men. The prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder will double by the age of 70-85 years.
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