Depression and the Chromosomes

Having the occasional blues is a natural part of life. Depressive disorders impair the quality of an entire life. Now a recent study suggests chronic depression can be even more damaging than previously thought. Depression may actually damage the immune system.

A very recent study out of the University of California in San Francisco has discovered that those who suffer from long-term untreated, depressive disorder have shorter telomeres when compared to others. Telomeres are caps that protect the ends of chromosomes and are thought to have a lot to do with aging and immunity. The stronger and longer the telomeres, the more protected the chromosome which in turn translates to cellular health and replication.

Telomeres were in the news last November when scientists in Boston turned the telomerase off and then on again restoring youth to a group of lab rats. Telomerase is the enzyme that rebuilds these the chromosomal caps.   The end results demonstrated that turning the telomerase on returned the rats to a youthful vigor and appearance. The evidence was available for all to see on the evening news.

The latest study reveals shorter telomeres in chronically depressed humans and suggests that long-term depression is physically damaging.  This might account for other studies that have found that chronically depressed people a have a higher statistical rate of developing diabetes, heart disease, and dementia along with other illnesses associated with aging. Shorter telomeres are uniquely found in those who have dealt with long-term depression.  Those with short-term episodes appear to be exempt.

It's estimated that 15% of Americans will have a diagnosable depressive disorder sometime in their lifetimes. A major depressive disorder covers a wide-range of life disrupting symptoms, including but not limited to sad feelings, sleep difficulties, lack of interest, concentration and memory problems, a change in eating patterns, suicidal thoughts, a sense of worthlessness, and body aches.  

Borrowing from the national statistics, more than one in ten people in Raleigh has or will suffer from a depressive disorder.  On a positive note, other statistics indicate that an estimated 80 to 90 percent of those who seek and accept treatment for depression are successful in recovery. The most prominent forms of treatment include antidepressant medication and a form of talk therapy that explores and challenges automatic thinking in the client known as cognitive behavioral therapy.  Last year, the American Psychiatric Association also recommended aerobic or resistance exercise as a beneficial tool in treatment.

Due to the many local universities, hospitals, and research facilities in the area, Raleigh has an abundance of mental health professionals who can treat depression.  There are many online tools for finding local clinicians.  Many people who are considering treatment for a mental disorder feel more comfortable talking first to their general practitioners with whom they already have a on-going relationship. The family doctor also offers the advantage of being able to rule out physical problems and medication side effects as a cause of the depressive symptoms before recommending a mental health professional.

With the statistical success of treatment and the resources available in the Raleigh area, most people who suffer from depression don't need to tolerate this life-sapping condition.