“Psychological distress, as experienced by depressed persons, has a large, detrimental impact on the 'wear and tear' of a person's body, resulting in accelerated biological aging,” study author Josine Verhoeven told Live Science.
Effects of Depression on Aging
Depression has been linked to a shortened lifespan and a higher risk of cardiovascular problems, dementia, and cancer.
New research shows that those with longstanding mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are biologically older than their actual, chronological age. If you're one of the millions of Americans who lives with a mental disorder, your body might be older than you think.
For starters, when people are depressed, they may end up tensing specific facial muscles, grimacing or frowning, and these "negative facial expressions can become sort of etched into the skin in the form of fine lines and wrinkles," Day explains.
Recently, researchers have found that a person's mental health is also a factor in their risk for accelerated aging. According to researchers, certain psychological issues — such as hopelessness, unhappiness, and loneliness — increase a person's biological age more than smoking.
People with a lifetime history of mental disorders such as anxiety, depression or bipolar have blood markers suggesting they are up to two years older than their actual age, a study has found.
Yes, those who are happy tend to have fewer wrinkles and lines and other outward signs of aging. Their skin tends to be more resilient, which allows them to look much younger than they actually are. The skin will also repair itself more easily, helping to keep their biological age lower then other sin their age groups.
A stressed and depressed person may take short, shallow breaths. An improper heartbeat may also lead to a flushed, red face. Apart from these issues, psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema are three main skin issues that can flare up due to depression.
People with depression may experience appetite changes, which can cause unintended weight loss or gain. Medical experts have associated excessive weight gain with many health issues, including diabetes and heart disease. Being underweight can harm the heart, affect fertility, and cause fatigue.
Researchers believe this may be due to the tendency for antidepressants to relax the facial muscles, leading to more drooping than would otherwise be the case for a particular patient's chronological age.
Werner syndrome is a rare progressive disorder that is characterized by the appearance of unusually accelerated aging (progeria). Although the disorder is typically recognized by the third or fourth decades of life, certain characteristic findings are present beginning during adolescence and early adulthood.
“Cognitive decline may begin after midlife, but most often occurs at higher ages (70 or higher).” (Aartsen, et al., 2002) “… relatively little decline in performance occurs until people are about 50 years old.” (Albert & Heaton, 1988).
Overview. Progeria (pro-JEER-e-uh), also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, is an extremely rare, progressive genetic disorder. It causes children to age rapidly, starting in their first two years of life. Children with progeria generally appear healthy at birth.
Havemann says pre-existing depression and anxiety, as well as bereavement – which naturally occurs more often with advancing age – also contribute. Increasing insomnia is also a factor. Brain-body changes can cause depression that occurs for the first time later in life.
Older adults with late-in-life-depression age biologically older than their chronological peers. Summary: Older adults with depression are actually aging faster than their peers, researchers report. They also have poor cardiovascular and brain health.
The patient may appear tired, self-concerned, bored, and inattentive and display a loss of interest in the surroundings. Anxiety is a conspicuous and an integral element of affective state and may be expressed by severe restlessness and agitation.
Untreated depression increases the chance of risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction. It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at work, and make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses. Clinical depression, also known as major depression, is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts.
Depression and Vision
Light sensitivity: Patients may experience discomfort in daylight without a pair of sunglasses. Watery and strained eyes: Some individuals report watery eyes and pain from strained eyes. Eye floaters: Patients sometimes report the appearance of spots in their vision.
There are many studies to support the claim that depression affects vision. This can involve seeing colors in paler shades or even having more intense symptoms of existing eye problems. One phenomenon is how depression can cause the world to literally look and feel dull and gray.
Lethargy. Most people with depression find their motivation drops through the floor. They slow down, speak more slowly, move about as if carrying a weight on their shoulders and dragging weights around their ankles. Even periods of mild depression show in facial expressions and gestures, both of which reduce in number.
According to a study published in the Social Indicators Research journal, we're the happiest between the ages of 30-34, and midlife (our 40s and 50s) is not perceived as the least happy period in life.
And overall happiness actually peaks at two different points, according to the data: once at age 23 and again at 69. People reported the lowest levels of happiness in their mid-50s. Scientists think the correlation between old age in happiness is no coincidence.
In one large study from the Brookings Institute, for example, scientists found happiness was high for 18- to 21-year-olds and then dropped steadily until about age 40. But past middle age, the pattern began to reverse—gradually climbing back up to its highest point at age 98!
Chronic stress can lead to DNA damage that causes us to age faster, developing a haggard appearance. Fortunately, there are some healthy habits that can counteract stress and powerful non-surgical treatments that can support youth, beauty, and overall mental wellness.