Healthy lifespan cut short by sex-dependent depressive symptoms in older adults

Article excerpt

Depression in older adults shortens healthspan, the years lived free from disability, but researchers have struggled to pinpoint which specific depressive symptoms drive this toll. A new study reveals the answer differs starkly by sex: older women with depressive symptoms lose years to disability primarily through emotional and cognitive problems like anhedonia and concentration difficulties, while older men face greater physical consequences. The findings suggest treatment strategies may need to diverge, tailoring interventions to sex-specific symptom profiles rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach to depression in aging populations.