| Epilepsy Behav. 2005 May;6(3):303-11. | Related Articles, Links |
Should neurologists be trained to recognize and treat comorbid depression of neurologic disorders? Yes.
Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical College, Rush Epilepsy Center and Rush University Medical Center, 1653 West Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL, USA. akanner@rush.edu
Depression is a relatively common psychiatric comorbidity of most neurological disorders, with prevalence rates ranging between 20 and 50% among patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Furthermore, depression is an independent predictor of poor quality of life in these patients and has a negative impact on the response to treatment, course and recovery of neurological deficits. Thus, treatment of depression has become an integral part of the management of these neurologic disorders. This article discusses the rationale for neurologists to be trained in recognizing depressive disorders in neurologic patients and identifies the type of mood disorders in which neurologists can provide pharmacotherapy and those that need to be referred to the care of the psychiatrist.
Publication Types:
PMID: 15820336 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
85). Method: Prospective data on 66 optimally healthy, oldest old adults (mean age 88.5) were analyzed using survival analysis. Results: In all, 12 men and 11 women reported exercising > 4 hours per week, and 38 participants developed CI (mean onset age 93; mean follow-up 4.7 years). The effect of exercise was modified by gender. In more active women (> 4 hours/week), the risk of CI was reduced by 88% (95% confidence interval 0.03, 0.41) compared to those less active. Less active women had 2 times the incidence rate of CI compared to less active men and almost 5 times the rate compared to active women. Discussion: This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of exercise on healthy brain aging even in the oldest old and emphasizes the importance of increasing PA in older women. 
