Aging is a complex physical, mental, social and spiritual process. It affects each individual differently. Some people remain alert and active well into their 90's. Others seem old in every way as early as their 60's. Late-Life Mental Afflictions.
Depression is a very common mental disorder.
Depression is caused by a number of factors, from chemical imbalances to environmental influences. There are different forms of depression, some mild, others more severe. Dementia is a disorder marked by memory impairment and intellectual decline and changes in comprehension and judgment, language, recognition, behavior and personality. While these symptoms are sometimes thought of as typical signs of growing old, in reality they reflect underlying illnesses. Only a small portion of the aging population and roughly 10 percent suffers from dementia.