People with poor physical health, particularly in their liver, heart, and immune system, have significantly high levels of depression.
Published Aug 19, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 19, 2024 | 7:00 AM
Don't forget to take care of your physical health as it can change the brain structure and lead you to depression aswell! ( www.https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/news-and-events/pathways-linking-organ-and-brain-health,-and-impacts-to-mental-health-revealed)
“… And down below, the filter and the balance, the delicate chemistry of the liver, the storehouse of the subtle changes: no one
sees or celebrates it…,” Pablo Neruda.
Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda, in his poem Ode to the Liver, argued that the liver, more than the heart or the brain, deserves to be celebrated for its complex functions. But have you ever considered that your liver or heart could be the reason behind your anxiety or depression?
A new study revealed an astonishing connection between the health of your organs and your mental well-being. This isn’t just another health tip — this research shows that poor organ health might be silently restructuring your brain, making you more vulnerable to depression and anxiety.
Published in Nature Mental Health, this extensive study from the University of Melbourne, University College London, and the University of Cambridge analysed data from over 18,000 participants in the UK Biobank.
The findings? Participants with poorer physical health, particularly in their liver, heart, and immune system, had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms.
But it goes deeper: these physical ailments were linked to changes in brain structure, which could be the hidden culprit behind worsening mental health.
“This is a significant body of work because we have shown the link between physical health and depression and anxiety and how individual changes partially influence that in brain structure,” Professor Andrew Zalesky from the Departments of Psychiatry and Biomedical Engineering said.
The study’s results suggest that poor physical health across multiple organ systems, such as the liver and heart, the immune system and muscles and bones, may lead to subsequent alterations in brain structure.
“These structural changes of the brain may lead to or exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as neuroticism,” Prof Zalesky added.
Meanwhile, Dr Ye Ella Tian, the lead author of the study from the University of Melbourne’s Department of Psychiatry, said in the study, “Our findings highlight the intricate relationship between physical and mental health. Poor organ health can lead to structural changes in the brain, which may, in turn, worsen mental health conditions like depression and anxiety,”
Imagine this: What if your next anxiety attack could be traced back to something as seemingly unrelated as your liver health?
“This study provides strong evidence that your body’s health plays a crucial role in your mental state,” said Professor Andrew Zalesky, another key author of the study.
This research according to the researchers is a major step forward in understanding the mind-body connection. It challenges us to look beyond traditional mental health treatments and consider how improving physical health can be an integral part of managing depression and anxiety.
The study calls for a major shift in how we approach mental health — no longer focused on the mind, but a holistic approach that considers the body as a whole. The researchers explain that if one’s organs are in top shape, it might be time to rethink how you are caring for your mental health too.
“This study urges us to rethink our approach to mental health, making it clear that physical health is not just skin deep — it’s brain deep!” a senior doctor told South First.
Professor Andrew Zalesky, says this is a significant body of work because we have shown how alterations in brain structure due to poor physical health can lead to mental health issues. Healthcare providers must understand this link when treating patients.
Appreciating the study, senior consultant and interventional psychiatrist and MANAS institute of mental health in Hubballi in Karnataka, Dr Alok Kulkarni, not connected to the study told South First, “Converging lines of evidence increasingly indicate a bidirectional relationship between physical and mental health.”
He explained that evidence now indicates that better physical and metabolic health is associated with better mental health outcomes.
“An entire sub-speciality called metabolic psychiatry has emerged in recent times. Sleep, diet, exercise and substance misuse are influencing factors that determine metabolic health. Poor metabolic health sets the body and brain up for increased cortisol production and subsequent low-grade inflammation,” Dr Kulkarni adds.
He said that depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, anxiety an a host of other psychiatric disorders are inextricably linked with poor physical and metabolic health.
“It is only prudent that our interventions pay attention to sleep, diet, exercise and metabolic health so that we derive better clinical outcomes,” he said.
This interdisciplinary approach is gaining traction as research increasingly reveals that metabolic dysfunctions — such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and gut microbiome imbalances — can significantly influence brain function and contribute to psychiatric conditions.
The implications of this study are vast, encouraging both healthcare professionals and patients to take a more integrated approach to health.
Maintaining good physical health through lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, and sleep could be a powerful tool in combating mental health challenges.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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