Global Prevalence Of Major Depression In Older Adults Tops 13%

Worldwide, about 13.3% of adults aged 60 years and older have major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a meta-analysis with 20 studies involving 18,953 participants from 16 countries. About 11.9% of elderly women and 9.7% of elderly men have MDD. Across the countries represented in the analysis, the national prevalence of MDD among older adults ranged from 10.0% in Asia to 20.1% in Australia.

The gender difference in the incidence of depression was linked to environmental/social factors such as roles, support, and life events, and psychological factors, such as coping styles. However . . .