New research adds to growing evidence that metabolic health affects the brain and can negatively impact mental health.
In more than 200,000 adults, higher blood sugar and triglyceride levels and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were associated with higher future risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. .
“These findings may support closer follow-up of individuals with metabolic dysregulation for the prevention and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders,” said researchers led by Charilaos Chourpiliadis, MD, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. are writing.
The findings also suggest additional research exploring whether interventions in cardiometabolic diseases can counteract these associations, the researchers added.
The study was published online on April 2nd. JAMA network open.
High blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol
This finding is based on longitudinal data on 211,200 adults (58% men) enrolled in the Apolipoprotein-Associated Mortality Risk Cohort.
Researchers investigated whether blood biomarkers of carbohydrate, lipid, and apolipoprotein metabolism were associated with risk for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. The average age of participants at the time of first biomarker blood draw was 42 years.
During an average follow-up of 21 years, 16,256 people were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders.
High levels of glucose compared to low or normal levels (hazard ratio) [HR]1.30) and triglycerides (HR, 1.15) were associated with higher risk of depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders, whereas high levels of HDL (HR, 0.88) were associated with decreased risk. Ta.
When depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders were examined separately, the results were consistent and comparable for men and women.
The researchers also performed a nested case-control analysis, including all incident cases of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders within the cohort and up to 10 matched controls per individual case.
Compared to controls, patients with depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders had consistently higher levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol during the 20 years leading up to diagnosis; Apolipoprotein AI and apolipoprotein B levels were high during the 10-year period. diagnosis.
Important things to check
comment on the research Medscape Medical NewsThis is the largest study to examine This is one of the longitudinal studies. Metabolic biomarkers and subsequent risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.
Palmer said common questions related to her field of research are whether depression and anxiety cause people to eat more junk food, crave sweets, or become less physically active. He explained that it can affect blood sugar levels and lipids.
“These researchers focused only on participants who had no psychiatric diagnosis at the start of the study, and with the knowledge that mental illness may develop early, “We tried to rule out this possibility by also excluding people who developed a new mental health condition within the same period of time. Signs of depression or anxiety may be missed,” Palmer said.
“This study confirms that metabolic health and mental health are interconnected. We investigated levels of glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in the brain, and determined whether metabolic health and mental health are linked. We're doing a lot of other research looking at how diabetes is also associated with metabolic health conditions like obesity and mental health.'' “
“This study raises important questions about whether improving people's metabolic health could prevent these common mental illnesses. Further research is needed to prove this. But in the meantime, it's important to eat healthier, get quality sleep, and get better sleep.'' The right amount of exercise is what your doctor tells you to do. “It may not only help your physical health, but your mental health as well,” Palmer added.
This research was supported by an EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Action Grant. Chorpiliadis had no relevant disclosures.Palmer is the author of the book brain energy Published by Penguin Random House.
