Depression is a prevalent mental health issue that has been closely associated with a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline, especially in later life or midlife. This course explores the direct relationship between dementia and depression, including common genetic pathways, difficulties in diagnosing the condition, and the role that inflammation and chronic stress play. Participants will learn how to recognize and treat depression in adults 45 years of age and older, as well as methods for lowering the risk of dementia by promoting mental health.
Expert Presenter
Dr. Kales is Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at University of California Davis. Prior to this, she was Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan and a Research Investigator in the Center for Clinical Management Research and the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center in the VA Ann Arbor Health System. She is the founding Director of the UM Program for Positive Aging (PPA), established in 2009, which moved to UC Davis in 2019. As a fellowship-trained, board-certified geriatric psychiatrist, her research program is directly informed by her clinical work and experiences with patients, families, providers, and systems to diminish the barriers to effective and high-quality care for older patients with mental health issues and/or dementia and their caregivers. Dr. Kales is recognized as a national and international expert in outcomes related to later-life depression, the risks of use of antipsychotic and other psychotropic medications in older adults, and in researching ways to improve dementia care. In recognition of her work in the field of dementia care, she was named to the standing Lancet Global Commission on Dementia Care in 2015. Dr. Kales has had continuous federal funding since 2004, serving as principal investigator on 13 federally-funded grants. In her work with junior investigators, she has served as mentor to four faculty with NIA career development funding.
Learning Objectives
- List 6 or more modifiable risk factors for dementia
- Describe the relationship between depression and increased risk of dementia
- Discuss the importance of screening for depression in midlife and later life as a risk reduction strategy
- Identify special considerations for high-risk populations