How can we protect ourselves from depression?
Doctors have now found some concrete evidence that some movement is reduced on the day of the symptoms of Depression and overall mood increased.
Scientists at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) found in their recent study that exercise and physical activity help with depression symptoms. The experts published the results of their study in the English journal “JAMA Psychiatry”.
Sport makes you happy
Various studies have found a link between exercise and Lower depression risk. Sporting Exercises that put endorphins and endorphins make you happy. So far, however, there was no evidence of a causal relationship in depression. It was unclear whether physical activity has actually influenced the disease or whether people with depression just drift away from sports. The researchers found that exercise for people with depression is beneficial, and have found no evidence that depression impairs exercise ability.
More and more people suffer from depression
The results could help Doctors, physicians, and scientists to develop prevention strategies for the growing number of people, the fight against the symptoms of depression. Increased activity seems to protect against the development of depression, explains study author Dr. Karmel Choi from the Massachusetts General Hospital. Any physical activity seem to be better than none, say the experts. The calculations suggest that the replacement of the sitting by 15 minutes of Running increased physical activity, such as, or an hour of moderately vigorous activity sufficient to cause a lower risk of Depression.
What is the influence of our genes?
Both depression as well as physical activity can be influenced by our genes, so the scientists in their study focused on the genes. Some people are naturally athletic, others are more prone to depression, explain the doctors. By genomic data, this factor can be stabilized. So it is possible to determine whether people with Depression are less active or if this is not the case.
What results were achieved?
For physical activity, two data were identified in the study pools results: 377.000 people had their own physical activity in addition 91,000 people wearing so-called Fitness trackers to Monitor their movement. These collected data were compared with genetic testing. The evaluation showed that There was no Association between self-reported activity and lower depression rates. The data evaluation of the Fitness Tracker revealed: Who trained regularly, had symptoms less depression. How can this difference be explained? Memories of self-reported activity are not always accurate. In addition, many movements in everyday life, such as, for example, the staircase will rise, or on the way to the subway, Affected not as a sporting activity. A Fitness Tracker but also takes into account these activities.
How can people be motivated for more physical activity?
It is one thing to know that physical activity for the prevention of depression can be beneficial. It is another thing to get people to be physically active, explains Choi. It had to be done, therefore, even more, to find out how the recommendations of the increased activity at the best to different types of people with different risk profiles, tailored. The scientists are currently examining whether and to what extent physical activity can come in different at-risk groups to the benefit of, for example, people who are genetically prone to depression, or stress situations, suffer and hope. We hope to develop a better understanding of physical activity in order to promote resilience to depression, adds the author of the study. (as)