Depression 'makes us biologically older'

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24897247


Depression can make us physically older by speeding up the ageing process in our cells, according to a study.

Lab tests showed cells looked biologically older in people who were severely depressed or who had been in the past.

These visible differences in a measure of cell ageing called telomere length couldn't be explained by other factors, such as whether a person smoked.

The findings, in more than 2,000 people, appear in Molecular Psychiatry.

Experts already know that people with major depression are at increased risk of age-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

[LiberalEsto]

1. Oh swell. That really cheers me up no end. nt

[xchrom]

2. just doing my part!

[progressoid]

3. Sad rec.