Higher Burden of Depression Among Older Women

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Abstract
Whereas major depression affects only about 1% to 2% of community-dwelling older persons,1,2 clinically significant depressive symptoms are more common. Often referred to as “depressed mood” or simply “depression,” clinically significant depressive symptoms affect between 8% and 20% of this population3-10 and are highly morbid.11-23 The burden of depression, however, is disproportionately higher among older women than men.2,24-31 Despite an expanding knowledge base about late-life depression,7,32 the reasons for this sex difference have remained poorly defined.