Depression and Frailty in Older Adults can Affect Their Spouses Too

The frailer an older person is, the more likely they are to become depressed. The more depressed an older person is, the more likely they are to become frail.

People who are married to a depressed spouse are more likely to be sad, and a person married to a frail spouse are likely to acquire the same trait, says a research.

The study found that frailty and depression are connected within couples, especially in older adults.

Post Combat PTSD In Spouse And Marriage Adjustments
Strategies for rekindling marriage, after a spouse returns home from combat with post-traumatic stress symptoms present in one or both of the spouses, has been offered by a new study.

‘Frailty and depression symptoms in older couples may cause disability, falls, hospitalization and a shorter lifespan. ’

Frailty, a condition that affects 10 percent of people aged 65 and older, can make older adults more prone to disability, falls, hospitalization and a shorter lifespan.

They found the frailer an older person is, the more likely it is that he or she will become depressed. The more depressed an older person is, the more likely he or she is to become frail.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, examined the effects of frailty and depression on married couples.

Spouse Impacts Your Well-Being Even After Death
The link between the deceased spouse and surviving spouse is as strong as that between partners who are both living.

These findings are based on a study of data from 1,260 married couples, aged 65 and older, collected during the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Although we know much about the effects of frailty and depression on individuals, up until now, little has been uncovered about how these two conditions may be connected within couples.

Why Do Some People Defend Their Spouse While Other�s Don�t? : Secret Leached
Self-other overlap concept explains the fact that certain people defend their life partner and oversee their shortcomings as they view their spouse as one.

Interestingly, older husbands tended to be more depressed and frail than younger husbands. Older wives were not more depressed but were frailer than younger wives.

People are considered frail if they have three or more of these conditions: Low body weight (unintentional loss of 10 pounds in the past year), weakness, exhaustion, slowness and physical inactivity.

Exercise-Loving Spouse can Have a Positive Impact on Your Fitness Level too
A new study has revealed that if one spouse improves his or her exercise regimen, the other spouse is much more likely to follow suit and stay fit.

Frailty and depression symptoms may be intertwined for spouses, suggesting that senior living facilities might consider ways to increase couples' engagement in physical activities, social activities and mutual support, the researchers suggested.

Source-IANS