Interesting article today in the WSJ about role of depression as a risk factor effecting the memory, problem solving and mental acuity, perhaps even shrinking parts of the brain related to these attributes after the age of 65. The article, titled, "How Depression Weakens the Brain" describes the current literature with regard to cognitive deficits and bouts of depression. The study cited was a comparison of healthy versus depressed (60 years or older) subjects and the configuration of cognitive dysfunctions in both. The depressed subjects showed a significant amount of these deficits.
There was also a description of anatomical studies showing patients with chronic depression have a smaller hippocampus than healthy patients. The hippocampus is thought to be responsible for memory. Treatment of the depression reduces the risk. There are studies that relate this to Alzheimer's.
So...what are we to conclude...a positive attitude promotes a healthy brain, memory retention and good mental function perhaps into old age.
This all points out one lesson to me. I need to watch more Marx Brother's movies.
No comments:
Post a Comment