- Researchers are interested in understanding what components they can use to identify people with a higher risk for anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders.
- One recent study found that higher blood sugar and triglyceride levels were associated with an increased future risk for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.
- In contrast, the study also found that higher levels of high-density lipoprotein or ‘good’ cholesterol were associated with a lower future risk for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.
Some people are more likely than others to experience chronic mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. When doctors identify who is more at risk and find contributing factors, this can help deliver early treatment and reach positive health outcomes.
A study recently published in
Researchers looked at data from over 211,000 participants. They found that higher levels of blood sugar and triglycerides — a type of blood fats — were associated with an increased risk for these mental illnesses 20 years before diagnosis.
In contrast, researchers found that having higher levels of “good” cholesterol seemed to offer protection against these mental illnesses.
The results point to the importance of monitoring these metabolic biomarkers and regular follow-up so people can receive prompt mental illness diagnoses.
Anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders are common forms of mental illness that can make it harder for people to thrive in everyday situations.
Many risk factors may contribute to someone’s chances of developing these mental health conditions. The researchers who conducted the current study note that metabolic factors may contribute to their development, and they wanted to examine this relationship more closely.
The researchers included 211,200…
Read the full article here
