A new study shows regular exercise works better than medication in treating depression in older people. Exercising three times a week could be more effective than medication in relieving the symptoms of major depression in elderly people and may also decrease the chances that the depression will return over time. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center, in Durham N.C., studied 156 majorly depressed patients 50 and older and found that after 16 weeks, those who exercised showed significant improvement compared to those who either took medication alone or those who combined the therapies. Study participants in the exercise group engaged in one half-hour of brisk walking three times a week. It's also cheap, and it avoids problems such as the side-effects of medication.
Depression is prevalent for the elderly.
Surveys suggest more than 15 percent of the elderly population experiences depression at some point, while an additional 25 percent of elderly individuals have periods of persistent sadness that last two weeks or longer. But not everyone will benefit from exercise, cautions Gallo. Because depression plays a role in how people take care of themselves, he points out it's unlikely all depressed people will be motivated to start or keep exercising. Additionally, older adults may have medical complications that prohibit them from being active. The disability can contribute to their depression, he says, but also makes movement an impossible treatment for them.