Staying optimistic and cheerful can help keep you fit and mentally sharp into old age.
Researchers have discovered that people suffering from depression as they get older age faster. Their biological age is older than their actual age, and they are more likely to have worse heart health.
Depression also raises the chances of high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol and chronic health problems, say researchers from the University of Connecticut.
They measured the health of 426 people diagnosed with late-life depression by taking samples of blood to check levels of proteins that reflect biological ageing. The proteins, which are produced by ageing cells, cause inflammation in the body.
The level of these proteins was then checked against the participants’ general health, brain function and the severity of the depression.
