Recent studies have demonstrated that individuals previously diagnosed with mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorders exhibit certain blood markers, implying they are biologically older than their chronological age. This revelation could shed light on why these individuals typically have shorter lifespans and higher incidences of age-related diseases relative to the general population.
Dr. Julian Mutz and Professor Cathryn Lewis, both researchers from King’s College London, analyzed data related to 168 unique blood metabolites collected from 110,780 UK Biobank participants. This data was then compared with information regarding the participants’ mental health history. The investigation revealed that the metabolite profiles of participants with a history of mental illness suggested a greater biological age compared to their actual chronological age.
At the European Congress of Psychiatry in Paris, Dr. Julian Mutz, the lead researcher, shared the findings:
“With current techniques, we can estimate people’s age based on their blood metabolites. We discovered that those with a lifelong history of mental illness typically exhibited a metabolite profile indicating they were older than their actual age. For instance, individuals with bipolar disorder had blood markers suggesting they were approximately 2 years older than their chronological age.”
Those suffering from mental disorders often have shorter lifespans and poorer health quality compared to the average person. The impact varies with the specific mental health condition. Commonly, individuals with poor mental health are more prone to developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, which typically exacerbate with age. A 2019 study discovered that people with mental disorders had, on average, a life expectancy about 10 years less for men and seven years less for women, compared to the general population.
Dr. Mutz added:
“The evidence suggests that people with mental health problems are biologically older than what their age would suggest. While it might not account for all the disparities in health and life expectancy between these individuals and the general population, it does signify that faster biological aging could be a significant factor. If we can leverage these markers to monitor biological aging, it might revolutionize how we supervise the physical health of individuals with mental illness and assess the effectiveness of health improvement interventions.”
Responding to the study, Dr. Sara Poletti from the Istituto Scientifico Universitario Ospedale San Raffaele in Milan commented:
“This study is pivotal as it provides a potential explanation for the increased frequency of metabolic and age-related diseases in patients with mental illness. Grasping the mechanisms behind accelerated biological aging could be key for devising prevention strategies and customized treatments, addressing the mounting challenge of managing these disorders integratively.”
Meeting: 31st European Congress of Psychiatry
Please note, Dr. Poletti wasn’t involved in this research and her comment is independent.
The research has been financially supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. No relevant conflicts of interest were reported.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about
What did the research find regarding the impact of mental illness on biological age?
The research found that individuals with a history of mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders have blood metabolites indicating they are biologically older than their actual age.
How does this impact individuals with mental illnesses?
The accelerated biological aging observed in individuals with mental illnesses may partially explain why they tend to have shorter lifespans and higher rates of age-related diseases compared to the general population.
What was the sample size of the research study?
The research study analyzed data from 110,780 participants from the UK Biobank, examining 168 distinct blood metabolites.
What implications does this research have for monitoring physical health and interventions?
The findings suggest that tracking biological aging through blood markers could potentially revolutionize how physical health is monitored in individuals with mental illnesses and how interventions aimed at improving physical health are evaluated.
Is the accelerated biological aging the sole factor contributing to the disparities in health and life expectancy?
While accelerated biological aging may be an important factor, it may not account for all the differences in health and life expectancy between individuals with mental health problems and the general population. Other factors could also play a role.
How was the research funded?
The research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. No relevant conflicts of interest were reported.
More about
- New research
- European Congress of Psychiatry
- UK Biobank
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
3 comments
this researc is eye-opening! it shows dat mental health issues rly take a toll on our bodies. it’s sad dat ppl wif mental illnes may hav shorter lives n more health problms. we shud defo focus on findin ways 2 monitor n help their physical health too.
finally sum evidence to show da link btwn mental health n biological age! it’s tough livin wif mental illnes, n now we kno it takes a toll on our bodies too. let’s raise awareness n find ways to support mental n physical well-being together! #MentalHealthMatters
omg dis study iz like mindblown! Mental illnes can make u like older than u r?! datz so crazy! bt vry impt info, it cud help ppl w mental health probs live longer n healthier lives. #mindblown