General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew View of Depression: An Ailment of the Entire Body
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304587704577333941351135910.htmlScientists are increasingly finding that depression and other psychological disorders can be as much diseases of the body as of the mind.
People with long-term psychological stress, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder tend to develop earlier and more serious forms of physical illnesses that usually hit people in older age, such as stroke, dementia, heart disease and diabetes. Recent research points to what might be happening on the cellular level that could account for this.
Scientists are finding that the same changes to chromosomes that happen as people age can also be found in people experiencing major stress and depression.
The phenomenon, known as "accelerated aging," is beginning to reshape the field's understanding of stress and depression not merely as psychological conditions but as body-wide illnesses in which mood may be just the most obvious symptom.
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)slackmaster
(60,567 posts)Kicking for discussion.
ETA I am naturally resistant to the quasi-Lamarckian notion that environment can affect individual genetics.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Whatever it takes to make that happen!
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)Sushi is good, too.
MADem
(135,425 posts)teewrex
(96 posts)nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)and, it makes sense. we know that stress tricks the body into attacking itself. this describes how that might be working on the cellular level. very interesting stuff.
Bette Noir
(3,581 posts)Look how fast Mr. President's hair turned grey, after he got elected.
I hope he'll forgive us. He has the worst job in the world.
cpamomfromtexas
(1,247 posts)Pain & stress therapy center in San Antonio has excellent books on subject
cliffordu
(30,994 posts)bananas
(27,509 posts)In the comments:
I am a young 82 and a survivor of Breast
Cancer, having sustained a modified radical
mastectomy of the right breast in 1986, at
Kaiser Permanente of San Diego. I was told this
was an aggressive cancer and I began then to
pay even more attention to my diet. Later, in
'09, I sustained a cerebral hemorrhage (OD of
coumadin) in the right temporal region of the
brain and after being unconscious several days,
awoke in a strange hospital in Bakersfield, CA,
also Kaiser. I now am rigidly on guard - I eat no
red meat, no animal fat I know about, no dairy,
no sugar, enjoy fish, vegetables, no-carb, and
Greek non-fat yogurt. I also have researched the
exciting results of TA-65, stem cell discoveries
of the effect of the enzyme telomerase on the
telomeres of our chromosomes. I have been
taking TA-65 for 10 months now and no one
believes I am over 65. I work full time as a
freelance editor and ghost writer and do not
"feel" my age - in fact, I feel gloriously young
and excited about the future. I can still day
dream with "One of these days, I'm
gonna. . . .?." Come, grow old with me... The
best is yet to be! BELIEVE IT!!
FedUpWithIt All
(4,442 posts)The changes occur largely in the brain but also greatly affect hormones. Hormones can have a very powerful affect of aging, diabetes...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2020701/Brain-Chemistry-and-PTSD-W
I personally suffer from psychogenic seizures and a number of other physical issues due to the chronic trauma which led to the PTSD
Ship of Fools
(1,453 posts)Both of my parents suffered clinical depression; my sibs and I
are positive for it as well. I could have explained this to
*said scientists* almost 40 years ago when I was diagnosed.
Just sayin.
Locrian
(4,522 posts)Doctors are NOTORIOUSLY ignorant of the complex interactions of your hormone system. Endocrinologists are the WORST.
It's so easy to get a pill for anxiety or whatever for stress than address the multiple issues.