Global prevalence of mental disorders among older adults: 70+ years of age

Globally, mental disorders are prevalent among adults aged 70 and older, with a notable disparity between genders.

The data from 2021 reveals that women experience higher rates of mental health conditions than men in this age group.

Specifically, depressive disorders are the most common, affecting 6.7% of women and 4.9% of men.

Anxiety disorders follow, with 5.7% of women and 3.3% of men affected.

Other mental disorders, including bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia, show a lower overall prevalence, typically affecting less than 1% of the population in this age bracket, with some minor gender differences.