Depression Speeds Up Brain Aging, Find Psychologists

A British study published in Psychological Medicine found an association between depression and an acceleration of the rate of brain aging, reports ScienceDaily . The researchers conducted a review of 34 longitudinal studies on more than 71,000 participants. They examined the rate of decline of overall cognitive state in older adults. The investigation determined people with depression underwent a greater decline in cognitive state in older adulthood than those without depression. These findings are seen as important for early interventions. "Our findings should give the government even more reason to take mental health issues seriously and to ensure that health provisions are properly resourced," says the University of Sussex's Dr. Darya Gaysina. "We need to protect the mental well-being of our older adults and to provide robust support services to those experiencing depression and anxiety in order to safeguard brain function in later life."