Comorbid Dementia and Depression: The Case for Integrated Care

Dementia is a broad term for major neurocognitive disorders resulting from brain diseases or injuries that most commonly affect older adults. Depressive disorders have a high degree of overlap with the dementias and can further reduce cognitive functioning and quality of life. Evidence links high and progressive depressive symptoms in older adults to the risk of developing dementia. Early symptom recognition and treatment is essential to best practice. An integrated, team-based and person-centered approach enables primary care nurse practitioners, with the support and resources, to meet the multiple health care needs of older adults with comorbid depressive disorders and dementia.