"It's common around here"... If you suffer from this disease, your life expectancy is shortened by nearly 10 years.

A study has found that depression disrupts the stress system and can shorten lifespan by up to nearly 10 years.

Neuroscience News, a brain science specialist, reported, citing a paper published in the journal *Brain Medicine*, that depression disrupts the body's stress system, causing physical health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, and shortening life expectancy by 7 to 10 years.

 

According to this paper published by Dr. Philip W. Gold, a renowned neuroendocrinologist, the stress system disrupted by depression was found to induce changes in brain structure, such as a 40% reduction in the volume of the subfrontal cortex, and to disrupt hormone systems related to adrenocorticotropic hormone (CRH), norepinephrine, and cortisol.

Dr. Gold explained, “The combined effect of CRH, norepinephrine, cortisol, and inflammatory pathways helps explain why depression often leads to the early onset of various diseases and shortens the lifespan of affected individuals,” adding, “The damage caused by depression extends beyond mood and thoughts to physical health risks such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and stroke.”

 

He also added, “Depression exhibits a distinct stress response, which suggests the need for personalized treatment.” The study also demonstrated significant differences between subtypes of depression. While depression is characterized by increased activation of the stress system, atypical depression showed lower CRH secretion and cortisol levels.

 

Dr. Gold stated, “Biological mechanisms suggest that different therapeutic approaches are required,” adding that “this understanding opens up new treatment possibilities.” According to reports, the study presents innovative therapies targeting neuroendocrine dysfunction, including CRH antagonists, IRS p53 agonists, and hormone receptor modulators, which potentially offer more effective options for managing depression.

 

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Depression causes disruption in the stress system

A study has found that it can shorten lifespan by up to nearly 10 years.

 

Not long ago, at the apartment complex in my neighborhood as well

I heard some bad news.

 

These days, I think depression is one of the scariest diseases.