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Resources Basic Information Introduction & Causes of Cognitive Disorders Introduction to Cognitive DisordersVarious Causes of Cognitive DisordersReversible and Irreversible Cognitive Disorders Dementia DementiaMedical Conditions that May Cause Dementia Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's DiseasePrevalence and Causes of Alzheimer's DiseaseCauses of Alzheimer's Disease ContinuedRisk Factors for Alzheimer's DiseaseSymptoms of Alzheimer's DiseaseWarning Signs of Alzheimer's DiseaseDiagnosis of Alzheimer's DiseaseDiagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Imaging Procedures and Psychological EvaluationDiagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Neuropsychological TestingTreatment of Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms associated with Alzheimer's DiseaseResearch and Prognosis on Alzheimer's Disease Other Cognitive Disorders Vascular Neurocognitive DisorderVascular Neurocognitive Disorder ContinuedLewy Body DementiaSymptoms of Lewy Body DementiaDiagnosis and Treatment of Lewy Body DementiaReversible Cognitive Disorder - Dementia Syndrome of Depression Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Another Medical ConditionReversible Cognitive Disorder - DeliriumPrevention of Dementia and Other Cognitive Disorders Dementia Coping Skills & Behavior Management Coping Skills for Those With DementiaCoping Skills for Dementia CaregiversServices for Dementia CaregiversCommunication Tips for Dementia CaregiversBehavioral Management for Dementia CaregiversBehavioral Management for Dementia Caregivers ContinuedTips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic BehaviorsTips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic Behaviors Continued Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Traumatic Brain InjuriesTraumatic Brain Injuries ContinuedTreatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Conclusion and Resources Cognitive Disorders ConclusionCognitive Disorders Web ResourcesCognitive Disorders Book Resources More Information Dementia: What Gets Damaged; What Gets Saved Latest News Long-Term Outlook for Most With Serious Brain Injury Is Better Than ThoughtDrug Shows Promise in Easing Dementia-Linked PsychosisAHA News: Diabetes and Dementia Risk: Another Good Reason to Keep Blood Sugar in Check1 in 20 Cases of Dementia Occurs in People Under 65Could Menopausal Hormone Therapy Reduce Women's Odds for Dementia?Reading, Puzzles May Delay Alzheimer's by 5 Years: StudyTwo Major Health Systems Won't Administer Controversial New Alzheimer's DrugMost Marriages Survive a Spouse's Brain InjuryMedicare Mulls Coverage for Controversial Alzheimer's DrugFDA Head Asks for Investigation Into Alzheimer's Drug ApprovalNew Prescribing Instructions Tighten Use of Controversial Alzheimer's DrugMissing Teeth, Higher Odds for Dementia?AHA News: Smoking Harms the Brain, Raises Dementia Risk – But Not If You QuitHealthy Living Can Lower Your Odds for Alzheimer'sKeeping Same Nurse for All Home Health Care May Be Crucial for Dementia PatientsMost Cases of Dementia in U.S. Seniors Go Undiagnosed: StudyLilly to Seek FDA Approval for New Alzheimer's DrugCould a Type of Statin Raise Dementia Risks?Good News, Bad News From Alzheimer's Vaccine TrialPoor Sleep After Head Injury Could Point to Dementia RiskFDA Approves Alzheimer's Drug Despite Expert Panel's ObjectionsFDA Defends Approval of Controversial Alzheimer's DrugPeople of Color Have Twice the Risk of Dying After Brain Injury, Study FindsIn People With Type 1 Diabetes, Poor Blood Sugar Control Could Raise Dementia RiskThere's Been a Shift in Who's Funding Alzheimer's ResearchHealthy Living Helps Prevent Dementia, Even If It Runs in the FamilyAHA News: Is It Normal Aging or Early Signs of Dementia?Dementia Risk Rises as Years Lived With Type 2 Diabetes IncreasesHead Injury, Alzheimer's Appear to Affect Brain in Similar WaysBrain Injuries Raise Long-Term Risk of StrokeResearch Shows Links Between Gum Disease and Alzheimer'sAssisted Living Centers Can Do More for Dementia Patients, Experts Say6 Steps to Reduce Caregiver StressLoneliness in Mid-Life Linked to Higher Odds for Alzheimer'sDrug Used in Cancer Patients Might Help Treat Alzheimer's'Non-Drug' Approaches Can Fight Depression in People With DementiaSuicide Attempts Spike Soon After Dementia DiagnosisCould a New Drug Help Ease Alzheimer's?AHA News: Dementia May Be a Risk Factor for Infection But Not Death From COVID-19Your Eyes May Signal Your Risk for Stroke, DementiaEven 1 Concussion May Raise Your Odds for Dementia LaterAlzheimer's Patients Are Being Given Too Many MedsMany Blacks, Hispanics Believe They'll Get Worse Care If Dementia StrikesAlzheimer's May Strike Women and Men in Different WaysHistory of Mental Illness Tied to Earlier Onset of Alzheimer's DiseaseAHA News: Black, Hispanic Families Hit Hardest by DementiaWhy Some 'Super Ager' Folks Keep Their Minds Dementia-FreeDementia Seen in Younger Adults Shows Even More Brain Damage Than Alzheimer'sToo Little Sleep Could Raise Your Dementia RiskSpecialist Care for Alzheimer's Is Tough to Find for Poorer, Rural Americans Questions and Answers Problem of Forgetting ThingsHow Do I Handle My Mother's Decline?89 Year Old Mother Dementia vs DeliriumElderly ParentsVoices in his headold age or whatDementia and Depression Videos Overview of Dementia with Lewy Bodies Common Challenges: DrivingDiagnosis and Management of Vascular DementiaDifference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia Why Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease MattersLooking Beyond Alzheimer’s Disease: An Overview of Other Major Forms of Neurodegenerative DiseaseNew Definition of Alzheimer’s Changes How Disease Is ResearchedLewy Body Dementia: Most Common Disorder You’ve Never Heard Of Living With Traumatic Brain Injury Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease Seeing Alzheimer's in a New Way Inside Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer's Screening Neurology: Testing for Alzheimer's Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sexually Inappropriate BehaviorsAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Depression/ApathyAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Agitation and AnxietyAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Aggressive Language/BehaviorAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sleep DisturbancesAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Repetitive Phone CallsAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Home SafetyBest Practices & Emerging Therapies for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Recognizing the Early Signs of DementiaEffective Treatments and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Time is Now - Research on Aging Dementia – it affects us all Falls Prevention in People with DementiaCaregiver Training Part I: Introduction Caregiver Training Part II: HallucinationsCaregiver Training Part III: Refusal to BatheCaregiver Training Part IV: Refusal to Take MedicationCaregiver Training Part V: Repetitive BehaviorsCaregiver Training Part VI: Repetitive QuestionsCaregiver Training Part VII: SundowningCaregiver Training Part VIII: WanderingThe Benefits of Early Detection of Alzheimer's DiseaseA New Way To Look At Alzheimer'sThe Healing Power of MusicFalls Prevention in People with DementiaFalls Prevention in People with DementiaProtecting & Caring for Patients with DementiaDementia 101 in 101 Seconds Normal and Abnormal Aging and the BrainAlzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease Aggressive Behavior in People with DementiaDiagnosing Alzheimer’s Signs of Alzheimer’s Practical Tips for Travelling with a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease Links [1] Articles[3] Associations[5] Government[10] Information[2] Journals[1] Research[47] Videos Book Reviews Alive with Alzheimer'sAlzheimer'sDays With My FatherDecision Making, Personhood and DementiaDementiaDementia Caregivers Share Their StoriesHearing the Person With DementiaHow We Think About DementiaInside Assisted LivingMild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer's DiseaseMom's OK, She Just ForgetsMy Book about Brains, Change and DementiaNothing about us, without us!Remembering HomeRights, Risk and Restraint-Free Care of Older PeopleSpeaking Our Minds: Revised EditionStill AliceTelling Tales About DementiaThe Almost MoonThe Emotional Journey of the Alzheimer's FamilyThe Enduring Self in People with Alzheimer'sThe Story of My FatherVoices Of Alzheimer'sWhen It Gets DarkWhen Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care CommunityWrinkles

Related Topics Aging & Geriatrics Memory Problems Elder Care

Reversible cognitive disorders are due to conditions that severely affect a person's cognition (thinking abilities). However, if the condition is treated, the person's thinking abilities return to normal or near normal levels. Thinking abilities can change due to many possible situations or conditions. People who have mild forms of mental illness may often experience difficulties with their thinking abilities. In many cases, when the mental disorder can be treated, the person may regain all or some of their disrupted thinking abilities.

A condition that was previously referred to as pseudodementia is now more appropriately referred to by many clinicians as the dementia syndrome of depression or neurocognitive disorder due to depressed mood. This condition can happen in people who have very severe cases of depression that significantly affect their thinking abilities.

The Diagnosis of Depression

In the DSM-5 the diagnosis of depression (officially known as major depressive disorder) happens when a person meets at least five or more of nine specific symptoms that happen during the same two-week period. One of the symptoms must either be displaying a depressed mood or a loss of interest/ pleasure in daily activities. The symptoms must lead to a decrease in the person's normal level of functioning. The symptoms also cannot be due to some other mental disorder or medical condition.

A diagnosis of major depressive disorder is not made when a person displays normal changes in their mood such as sometimes being sad over the type of things that happen to most people. A diagnosis of major depressive disorder represents a diagnosis of a severe psychological disorder. This disorder most likely requires some form of treatment for the person's mood to improve. One of the major categories of the symptoms that happens are cognitive symptoms such as troubling thinking, remembering, or concentrating. When a person has a very severe onset of depression, their cognitive symptoms may be so severe that the person appears to have a form of dementia. This is most common in elderly people, but can happen in younger people as well.

The Dementia Syndrome of Depression

The prevalence of depression in elderly people is lower overall than it is in younger groups of people. However, older people with depression will more often have more physical symptoms. These physical symptoms often cause problems in their ability to think, concentrate, and make decisions. When a doctor is diagnosing possible dementia in any elderly person, they should consider the effect of depression or other issues such as anxiety on the person's symptoms. Younger people who have symptoms that look like dementia, but who do not have a family history of dementia would should make a competent clinician investigate the cause of their thinking issues. Often, the first potential causes that may be responsible for these types of dementia-like symptoms would be major depressive disorder.

Symptoms of the Dementia Syndrome of Depression

Some people who have severe depression may appear as if they have dementia. However, clinicians can use specific rules to determine if depression may contribute to the person's cognitive problems. A few of these include:

• The person appears to have dementia, but also has moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
• The person displays many of the physical signs of significant depression. This particularly includes very slowed thinking processes, very slowed and drawn out speech, and slow physical movements.
• A person with depression complains of having cognitive problems and can explain when they began, what they are, etc. Generally, someone with dementia will be more likely to try and cover up their thinking issues or will not be aware of them.
• If there are issues with memory, the person's performance on tests of memory improve when they are given reminders, cues, or asked to recognize information from a list. In many forms of dementia, these memory aids are not helpful.
• The examination of the person reveals that there is depression and that the start of their thinking problems has been relatively recent. The exam also reveals that problems happened relatively quickly, and there is no evidence that the person has had a stroke or other condition that can explain these symptoms.

A person's thinking abilities may even be affected by mild levels of depression. When people are treated for their depression, they will often experience a return of their thinking abilities. People with severe cognitive issues that are believed to be due to depression should also show a return of their abilities if the depression can be successfully treated. However, in some cases that include other possible causes of the person's decline in cognition, a full return of the person's thinking abilities may not happen. In general, clinicians expect a significant return in the person's thinking abilities if their depression can be successfully treated.

Treatments for Depression

Depression can be treated with medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. There are many medications that are now used to treat depression. Different types of antidepressants are likely to cause different side effects. These medications will typically take a few weeks before the person begins to show improvements in their mood. Other medications, such as mild stimulant medications, may also be used to help the person function better physically and to concentrate in the short term. The use of psychotherapy has been shown to be at least as effective as the use of medications to treat depression. It also can help the person to develop skills that will help them not to have serious issues with depression in the future. However, psychotherapy for depression most often requires a longer time commitment. For people who have the dementia syndrome of depression, it would most likely be used in combination with medications.

The treatment of the depression will very often result in significant improvements in a person's thinking abilities. However, there are studies that suggests that having a history of major depressive disorder is a risk factor for the development of later issues including developing dementia. People who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe depression that resulted in significant cognitive problems should be followed closely by their doctors. This can help to identify any early warning signs of potential dementia or other cognitive disorders.

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