Depression is a major mental health issue that has negative implications as we age. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal dated April 10, 2012, suggested that depression is an ailment of the entire body. This is significant, because this “brain disease” Is being viewed as a systemic illness. For example, individuals who have had major bouts with depression have an increased risk of developing conditions associated with aging. One explanation suggests that depression causes cells to age prematurely. Depression and early aging is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, stroke, dementia, and osteoporosis and type II diabetes. In other words, untreated depression can affect both the medical and cognitive during the aging process.
About 20 years ago, researchers at Duke University found that the brain scans of older people with depression showed much faster age-related loss of volume in the brain, compared with people without depression. Reset studies of what is believed to be associated with aging and the cellular level have looked at telomeres. Telomeres are a protective covering at the end of chromosomes that have been recognized as playing an important role in aging. Our telomeres get shorter as we age. Telomeres shortening are associated with cell division. When cell division stops, were in trouble. It is no wonder, that shortened telomeres also are related to an increased risk of disease and mortality. Further, recent studies suggest that shortened telomeres are associated with such things as depression childhood trauma, and PTSD.
One clue or symptom related to depression is having difficulty with sleep, either falling or staying asleep. Sleep is very important, since it allows our brain to go into another mode that replenishes itself. Without the necessary amount of sleep we do not function at our best to say the least. We have all been around grumpy old men that have not received enough sleep.
An article in the July 9 edition of Time talked about insomnia, bad dreams and/or nightmares. Apparently 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia. One issue contributing to our sleeplessness might be the things we dream about. If you are having difficulty with your sleeping, your dreams, or depression find a mental health expert for evaluation and treatment. For those interested in additional information about telomeres look up TA 65 on the Internet.
Aging can be good or it can be one of the unhappiest times in your life. Some older people like to talk about their medical conditions and their illness. I prefer to be around individuals who are vibrant in spirit as well as activity. If you follow my 7 prescriptions found in my book, you just might become a happy centenarian. The choice is yours and yours alone.
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