Wrinkled facial skin, crippled hands, and frail legs are the outward appearances of old age. However, aging is not just what meets the eye. It is a process that disrupts you externally and internally, too.
The aging process affects your physical strength and takes a toll on your psychological and mental health. Individuals who follow a healthy lifestyle can slow the progression of aging.
However, substance addiction can have grave consequences on your general and mental health. Aging with addiction can multiply the effects of mental degeneration. So, today we will look at the effects of aging toward addiction and mental health to see how these factors affect one another. Read on to learn more.
Aging and Mental Illness
A wide spectrum of mental health complications is associated with increased age. The most common aging-related mental health illnesses are discussed below:
Psychosis
You might have seen elderly adults becoming irritated easily, having mood swings, talking to themselves, and perhaps being disconnected from the rest of the world. The condition, i.e., psychosis, is common in the elderly.
The incidence of psychosis (first-time episode) is 50/100000 people. According to a study, late-onset psychosis is a treatment dilemma and carries a lifetime risk of 23%. The study emphasizes checking for the six d’s of late-life psychosis:
- Delirium
- Delusions
- Disease
- Drugs
- Dementia
- Depression
Aged people have alterations in their mental performance that make them delusional and hallucinate. Adults having dementia are also more prone to developing psychosis with age.
Depression
Depression is a common mood disorder in older adults. The prevalence of major depression reaches 2% among people above 55, and it continues to rise with increasing age. Around ten to fifteen percent of elderly individuals have noticeable depressive symptoms even without major clinical depression.
Research shows that with growing age, there is a fall in the brain’s neurotransmission. Reduced GABAergic transmission with age is the cause of major depressive disorder. Raised levels of oxidative stress also make senile individuals prone to depression and stroke.
According to reports from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force, a rise in the number of old adults with bipolar disease is expected to rise in the coming years.
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Aging often takes away your ability to remember things and make crucial decisions. It has been observed that aging is an evident risk factor for disorders such as dementia. Neurodegenerative disorders are more pronounced in the later stages of life.
Cognitive deficits in the aging brain can lead to forgetfulness and memory disruptions. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurological issue characterized by dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is common in older adults and is attributed to amyloid deposition in the brain. Energy imbalances at later ages can be the cause of AD and dementia.
Though it can occur at any age, the high prevalence in the elderly population calls for comprehensive care.
Parkinson’s Disease
Another neurodegenerative disease associated with aging is Parkinson’s disease. The disease affects 1-2 individuals per 1000 of the population, but the prevalence increases with age, affecting 1% of individuals in the 60+ age bracket. Loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain leads to reduced control of voluntary movements.
Neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by involuntary tremors and rigidity accompanied by slow movements (bradykinesia). Oxidative stress also acts as a penetrating factor for Parkinson’s disease.
Aging and Addiction
Astonishingly, substance (alcohol) abuse and addiction among the elderly (above 60) is becoming a medical burden in the US. The condition is often underdiagnosed and even underestimated. As already mentioned, aging can bring various mental health conditions, and addiction adds fuel to the fire.
Types of drug abuse in aging adults include drug misuse, substance use disorder, and prescription drug abuse.
According to authentic studies, drug addiction is known to accelerate the process of biological aging. Addiction increases inflammation, oxidative stress, and levels of stress hormones that trigger premature aging. All these effects can lead to telomere attrition (a hallmark of aging).
Alcohol addicts show greater changes in the amygdala and cortex of the brain. Studies show that adults suffering from alcohol use disorders undergo accelerated aging.
How Do Aging, Addiction, and Mental Health Correlate?
The prevalence of substance abuse and mental (psychiatric) disorders in older adults ranges from 7% to 38%. Early intervention in such cases is crucial because mental health conditions deteriorate faster in addicts as they age. That makes diagnosis and treatment more difficult.
Substance abuse disorder with mental health complications (anxiety, depression, etc.) is termed dual diagnosis. Down syndrome patients with dual diagnosis show distinct neuropathological changes (characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease) around 50 years of age. These can be associated with signs of dementia. Recognizing the early signs of dementia can be difficult and, therefore, can delay diagnosis.
Thus, recognizing neurodegenerative symptoms in aging addicts is an uphill task for physicians. Furthermore, addiction in aging men and women can have serious complications. Treatment strategies become less efficient as we approach the later stages of life. Individuals over 65 have a reduced ability to metabolize drugs.
Pharmacokinetic studies reveal that clearance of certain drugs can reduce up to 30% in elderly abusers. Thus, addiction to alcohol or other drugs becomes more dangerous in seniors.
Another issue in treating addiction in aging individuals (with mental illness) is the high relapse rate. As per a review, treatment of older adults with dual diagnosis is frequently associated with relapse and poor outcomes.
A study revealed multiple health conditions in aging narcotics addicts. Maladies included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, abnormal liver function, etc. These comorbidities also contribute to cognitive and mental health decline.
Treatment Options
Most addicted adults are given treatment for substance abuse disorder (SUD). Abstaining seniors from alcohol/substances is crucial to prevent further mental degeneration. Addiction treatment options for older adults (with mental illness) include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT).
Research shows that CBT effectively corrects substance abuse disorder (addiction) and mental illness. Other treatment modalities for such patients include group-based approaches, individual counseling, and family therapies.
For those in need of a thorough assessment about their own issues with mental health, addiction, or age-related psychosis, contact Alvarado Parkway Institute for a comprehensive discussion today.
