Comorbid disease in geriatric patients: dementia and depression.

As the population ages, Alzheimer's disease and depression are becoming increasingly common concerns for primary care physicians. While the comorbidity of Alzheimer's disease and depression presents a complex diagnostic and management challenge, treatment can improve the patient's quality of life. Changes in functional status, complaints of pain and fluctuations in mental status may signify the onset of depression in a patient with dementia. Because of differences in treatment, it is important to separate depression from other disruptions in behavior. Unfortunately, screening tools for depression and cognitive function are of limited usefulness in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Improvement with antidepressant therapy is often diagnostic. The caregiver plays a large role in assisting with the diagnosis and assessing the effectiveness of therapy.