Depression and stress not only leave a palpable trace on our face but also help to shorten our lives by altering our genetic activity, according to a study carried out by researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine (USA). and the Scripps Research Institute specializing in biomedicine.
In an experiment with worms Caenorhabditis elegans (or C. elegans), transparent worms that have a biochemical environment similar to that of human beings and therefore represent a very interesting tool for the study of the biology of aging, the scientists identified a series of genes that can modulate the effects of mood and a response – positive or negative – to stress in our lifespan.
Specifically, the study described a gene known as ANK3 as a key player in longevity: “ We were looking for genes that could be at the interface between mood, stress and longevity. We have found a series of genes involved in mood disorders and stress disorders that also seem to be involved in longevity ”, explains Alexander B. Niculescu III, leader of the study.
The price of stress
The experiment continued by crossing the results of C. elegans with human genes associated with depressive symptoms in humans. In total, more than 700 blood samples were used from patients with a diagnosis of psychiatric disorder, discovering that those who had died by suicide, for example (where the results were very conclusive), the expression levels of the ANK3 gene were significantly higher than in other individuals.
According to scientists , people subjected to significant stress or mood disorders show a change in the expression levels of these genes that are associated with premature aging and reduced longevity.
Among other things, the experts also discovered that exposure to the antidepressant mianserin – used to treat stress and mood disorders – extended the life expectancy of this animal.
Thus, the authors raise the possibility of an actively controlled “life switch” by mood and stress. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis revealed a number of compounds that can act on these genes and promote longevity: omega-3 fatty acid, quercetin, vitamin D, and resveratrol, among others.
“This study presents ANK3 and other genes in the body as biomarkers of biological age with a close association between mood, stress, and life expectancy,” the authors comment.
The study has been published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
