For as long as I can remember, Google has helpfully delivered daily news alerts on “depression” to my inbox. They landed cheerfully – with a little ping – ironic, given they either directed me to economic collapse or mental illness. I was interested in the melancholic variety, perpetually on the lookout for treatments that might make my mother better. Not...
For as long as I can remember, Google has helpfully delivered daily news alerts on “depression” to my inbox. They landed cheerfully – with a little ping – ironic, given they either directed me to economic collapse or mental illness.
Dr Andrew Sommerlad, a consultant old-age psychiatrist at University College London, says it’s a tricky connection. Sommerlad says socialising is key – think of the brain power required to engage in the dynamics of a conversation. My mother went for months without having one. “Some studies have revealed a neuroprotective effect of oestrogens on memory and cognition, by reducing the extent of injury to the brain,” Gong says, and as women age, their oestrogen levels drop.
My mother is well educated, her heart is sound, she has never battled with hypertension and she never smoked or drank to reckless excess. Certainly her depression presents as a risk, possibly her early hysterectomy does, but her laissez-faire attitude to exercise might have also predisposed her to cognitive decline.
Shorter telomere length has been associated with the development of dementia and cognitive impairment. “It is a complex picture and the mechanisms are unclear. It is also unclear whether short telomeres are a cause, consequence or both for cognitive impairment,” Dempsey added.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wheat can't be 'weapon of war', Pope says, urging lifting of Ukraine blockVATICAN CITY — Pope Francis appealed to authorities on Wednesday (June 1) to lift a block on exports of wheat from Ukraine, saying the grain could not be used as a 'weapon of war'.
Read more »
S'pore Mercedes-Benz driver litters JB road with rambutan peels: 'So shameful'As travel restrictions are lifted, is the ugly Singaporean abroad making a comeback? Read more at stomp.straitstimes.com
Read more »
Britain tells airlines to stop selling flights they can't deliver
Read more »
'He can't present his case if he's executed': Top court explains why drug trafficker's execution postponedSINGAPORE - A death row inmate - one of 13 who have filed a civil case that is pending before the court - appeared to have been 'singled out' by a decision to schedule him for execution on April 29. The Court of Appeal said this in written grounds issued on Monday (May 30) to explain why it upheld a...
Read more »