Depression not only robs us of the will to live but also takes its toll on our body. It is known that it affects our immune system, making us more prone to getting sick, but now a new study carried out at the universities of Amsterdam and California shows us that major depression can accelerate the aging process. How?
It all starts at the telomeres
To analyze how major depressive disorder affects aging at a cellular level, researchers took blood samples from more than 2,400 people, a third of whom suffered from depression while another third had suffered from it in the past. The remaining third had never presented a depressive disorder.
The team looked for signs of cell aging by measuring the size of the participants’ telomeres. It is worth clarifying that telomeres are like a kind of protective cap found at the ends of chromosomes. These combinations of proteins and DNA keep the chromosomes stable, but the problem is that they shorten as the cell divides.
The shorter the telomeres, the more the structural integrity of the chromosomes is affected and the faster the cells age, until they die. As you might guess, telomeres help keep the chromosome intact and are a reliable indicator of aging.
What was interesting was that depressed people had much shorter telomeres than people who had never suffered from depression. In fact, the analysis showed that the more severe and longer the depressive illness, the shorter the telomeres were.
At this point the question is: why does depression cause cells to age more quickly?
Researchers think that depression affects the regulation of our body’s immune response, which causes an increase in inflammation, which would be responsible for cell damage and telomere shortening.
In fact, numerous studies have linked depression to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and a decrease in anti-inflammatory cytokines. This process, in addition to damaging the cell, also reinforces the physical symptoms of depression since it decreases the levels of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, that make us feel good. At this point a vicious circle is created that feeds on itself.
Not everything is lost
The good news is that telomere shortening caused by depression is not irreversible. In fact, previous research conducted at the University of California showed that a lifestyle change can increase telomere length by up to 10% and in as little as three months.
What should you do? The answer is very simple: opt for a healthy diet, a physical exercise program and techniques to reduce stress.
References:
Verhoeven, J. et. Al. (2013) Major depressive disorder and accelerated cellular aging: results from a large psychiatric cohort study. Molecular Psychiatry .
Ornish, D. et. Al. (2013) Effect of comprehensive lifestyle changes on telomerase activity and telomere length in men with biopsy-proven low-risk prostate cancer: 5-year follow-up of a descriptive pilot study. The Lancet Oncology ; 14(11): 1112-1120.
Miller, A.H.; Maletic, V. & Raison, CL (2010) Inflammation and its disappointments: role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of major depression. Biological Psychiatry ; 17(2): 71-80.
