Being sad makes you old: Depression increases your brain age

( Natural News ) It is completely normal to feel sad sometimes. Relationship problems, the loss of a loved one in death and other changes in circumstance can cause a temporary loss of joy. This is normal and nothing to be concerned about. However, when the sadness lingers, you no longer feel any interest in things that previously made you happy, you experience loss of appetite, and your energy levels are low for weeks on end, you could be dealing with clinical depression. Sadly, this type of depression is far more widespread than many of us realize. According to the National Institute of Mental Health , major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the country. In one survey, over 17 million American adults reported having had at least one depressive episode in the preceding year, with the greatest levels of depression being felt by those between the ages of 18 and 25. These statistics are especially concerning when viewed in conjunction with the results of a study conducted by researchers from the University of Sussex and published in the journal Psychological Medicine . This study found that there is a clear link between depression and an increased risk of dementia and overall cognitive decline in later life . Depression ages your brain As reported by Science Daily , earlier studies had already confirmed a link between depression and dementia. However, this particular study took it a step further, proving a link between depression and a general decline in total cognitive function. For their study, the research team analyzed the results of 34 longitudinal studies to determine the effects of depression on long-term cognition. The review involved studies with more than 71,000 participants, some of whom had been diagnosed with depression, while others were exhibiting the […]

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