Topics:
Introduction
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that living a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing depression. The study analyzed data from over 280,000 adults in the UK and identified seven lifestyle factors associated with a lower risk of depression.
The Seven Healthy Habits
- 1. Moderate alcohol intake
- 2. Never smoking
- 3. Getting enough sleep
- 4. Regularly exercising
- 5. Eating a healthy diet
- 6. Frequently socializing
- 7. Minimizing sedentary behavior
Participants who practiced five to seven of these habits had a 57% lower risk of developing depression compared to those who adhered to less than two of the habits. The habits with the largest influence were getting enough sleep, exercising, and socializing, each associated with about a 20% lower risk of depression.
The Impact on Brain Biology
Brain scans of a subset of participants revealed that a higher number of healthy lifestyle habits were associated with larger brain volume in regions known to influence mood, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This suggests that lifestyle choices can have a significant impact on brain biology, potentially explaining the connection between a healthy lifestyle and a lower risk of depression.
Controversy and Causality
Some experts, like Maura Boldrini at Columbia University, argue that depression itself can make it difficult for individuals to find the motivation to exercise and eat healthy meals. They suggest that the relationship between a healthy lifestyle and a lower risk of depression may not be a one-way street and that there could be a bidirectional causality effect.
