J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  1998 May;2(1):9-13.

The Etiology of Geriatric Mood Disorder

• Lee C

Abstract

In this brief overview, the author addresses the elements of late-life depression from a biological standpoint. The etiology of late-life depression is undoubtedly multifactorial. Few studies of the neurochemistry and neuropathology of depression in the elderly have yielded robust results. Even fewer studies suggest the presence of a trait-dependent marker for the geriatric depression. A key difficulty is the current inability to determine whether alleged markers are crucial to the genesis of the disorder or whether they are merely epiphenomena.

Keyword

Geriatric mood disorder; Late-life depression; Biology

MeSH Terms

Aged
Biology
Depression
Humans
Mood Disorders*
Neurochemistry