The Mediating Role Of Insulin Resistance In Depression Driving Phenotypic Age Acceleration
Feeling down can do more than just affect your mood; it might also be speeding up how your body ages. Recent research has uncovered a fascinating link between experiencing depression and a phenomenon called “phenotypic age acceleration,” which essentially means your biological age is advancing faster than your chronological age.
This accelerated aging isn’t just a direct consequence of depression. A key player in this process appears to be insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition where your body’s cells don’t respond effectively to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. This can lead to higher blood sugar levels and is often associated with metabolic issues like type 2 diabetes.
The study suggests that depression can contribute to the development of insulin resistance, and in turn, this insulin resistance further drives the accelerated aging observed in individuals with depression. This means that the connection between mental well-being and physical aging is more intertwined than previously understood, with metabolic health acting as a crucial bridge.
These findings highlight the importance of considering metabolic factors, such as insulin resistance, when managing depression. Addressing these underlying metabolic issues could offer new avenues for interventions aimed at not only improving mental health but also mitigating the associated acceleration of biological aging.
Source: link to paper