Depression

Frequently Asked Questions

5. How do I know if I am at risk for depression? - cont'd

If you experience depression for the first time later in life, other factors may be at play. Depression may be related to changes that occur in the brain and body as we age. For example, some older adults may suffer from restricted blood flow, a condition called ischemia. Over time, blood vessels harden and prevent blood from flowing normally to the body's organs, including the brain. If this occurs, an older adult with no family history of depression may develop what some doctors call "vascular depression."