When Sadness Isn't Just Dementia

Depression in dementia patients is something I've seen impact many families, and it breaks my heart how often it goes unrecognized or untreated. Having worked with these patients, I've noticed that up to 40% experience significant depressive symptoms, yet these can be mistaken for the progression of dementia itself.

The relationship works both ways - depression can increase someone's risk of developing dementia later, and dementia often triggers depression as the person experiences losses in their abilities and independence. It's a cruel cycle.

I know this intimately. When my husband was diagnosed with early dementia at just 55, our world shattered. He was still in the prime of his career and suddenly faced a future very different from what we had planned. At first, I attributed his withdrawal and sadness to processing the diagnosis. But months passed, and as he became increasingly detached, a specialist recognized what I hadn't - he was experiencing severe depression alongside dementia.

What makes this particularly challenging is how the symptoms blend. When your loved one withdraws from activities they once enjoyed, is it depression or advancing dementia? When they seem less interested in eating, is it depression affecting appetite or something else? With my husband, his loss of interest in making and fixing things - something he'd loved for decades - was a key signal we missed.

I've found that treatment works best with a thoughtful combination of approaches like careful medication management (though responses can be unpredictable), along with meaningful activities like music therapy or reminiscence work that connects them to positive memories. Creating predictable daily routines provides security when their world feels increasingly confusing. For us, establishing a daily walk together became both physical exercise and valuable connection time when conversations grew more difficult.

And please, don't forget yourself on this journey. Caregiver burnout and depression are real risks that can affect both your well-being and your ability to provide the best care. What support system do you have in place? I learned this lesson the hard way, trying to handle everything alone until my own health began to suffer.

If you're caring for someone with dementia, I urge you to watch carefully for signs of depression and advocate for proper assessment. Addressing depression isn't optional in dementia care—it's essential for preserving the quality of life for both your loved one and yourself.