Feeling sad after a loss, health change, or major life transition is a normal part of life. But depression is not a normal part of aging.

In this episode of Brain Bytes, Kelly Tremblay, PhD, explores how to distinguish between temporary low mood and clinical depression, highlighting common symptoms such as persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep or appetite, and social withdrawal.

Dr. Kelly also discusses the important role of social connection in protecting emotional well-being and reviews evidence-based approaches that can help, including cognitive behavioral strategies, community engagement, and emerging research on wisdom-enhanced narrative therapy.

Tune in to learn why recognizing the signs of depression early can make a meaningful difference in supporting mental health, brain health, and overall quality of life as we age.

To learn more, join us at our AgingIN conference and discover what the World Health Organization and your peer communities are doing to make aging better. https://aginginnovationconference.org/program/longevity-summit/

Here is a link to the study cited in the episode:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S106474812400383X?utm_source=chatgpt.com