Risk and Protective Factors for Mental Health Disorders

June 16th, 2009

Ng F, Berk M, Dean O, Bush AI.

Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, University of Melbourne, Geelong, VIC, Australia. felicitn@barwonhealth.org.au

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse disease states, and may be a common pathogenic mechanism underlying many major psychiatric disorders, as the brain has comparatively greater vulnerability to oxidative damage. This review aims to examine the current evidence for the role of oxidative stress in psychiatric disorders, and its academic and clinical implications.

According to wikipedia:

Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen and a biological system’s ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or easily repair the resulting damage. All forms of life maintain a reducing environment within their cells. This reducing environment is preserved by enzymes that maintain the reduced state through a constant input of metabolic energy. Disturbances in this normal redox state can cause toxic effects through the production of peroxides and free radicals that damage all components of the cell, including proteins, lipids, and DNA.

A literature search was conducted using the Medline, Pubmed, PsycINFO, CINAHL PLUS, BIOSIS Preview, and Cochrane databases, with a time-frame extending to September 2007. The broadest data for oxidative stress mechanisms have been derived from studies conducted in schizophrenia, where evidence is available from different areas of oxidative research, including oxidative marker assays, psychopharmacology studies, and clinical trials of antioxidants. For bipolar disorder and depression, a solid foundation for oxidative stress hypotheses has been provided by biochemical, genetic, pharmacological, preclinical therapeutic studies and one clinical trial. Oxidative pathophysiology in anxiety disorders is strongly supported by animal models, and also by human biochemical data. Pilot studies have suggested efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in cocaine dependence, while early evidence is accumulating for oxidative mechanisms in autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In conclusion, multi-dimensional data support the role of oxidative stress in diverse psychiatric disorders. These data not only suggest that oxidative mechanisms may form unifying common pathogenic pathways in psychiatric disorders, but also introduce new targets for the development of therapeutic interventions.

PMID: 18205981 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Click here to learn more about oxidative stress and the risk and preventive factors for mental health disorders,

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Healthy Aging

June 15th, 2009

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s outlook for 2009 highlights the reasons for concern about health care in America. In the document: Healthy Aging: Improving and Extending Quality of Life Among Oder Americans, the CDC notes the implications of the aging population. It is clearly more important than ever for people to take any measures they can to promote healthy aging. The excerpt below on healthy aging paints a telling picture.

At A Glance 2009

The Health and Economic Effects of an Aging Society

By 2030, the number of U.S. adults aged 65 years or older will more than double to about 71 million. The rapidly increasing number and diversity of older Americans has far-reaching implications for the U.S. public health system and will place unprecedented demands on aging services and the nation’s entire health care system.

For example, Medicare spending has grown about nine-fold in the past 25 years, increasing from $37 billion in 1980 to $336 billion in 2005. If left unchecked, health care spending will increase 25% by 2030, largely because of the aging population.

Chronic diseases disproportionately affect older adults and are associated with disability, diminished quality of life, and increased costs for health care and long-term care. Today, about 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 50% have at least two. These conditions can cause years of pain and loss of function. Public health efforts can help Americans avoid preventable illness and disability as they age. Research has shown that poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Effective public health strategies currently exist to help older adults remain independent longer, improve their quality of life, and potentially delay the need for long-term care.

Chart showing causes of death among U.S. adults aged 65 years or older, 2005 with text description provided below

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://cdc.gov/

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Risk and Protective Factors for Mental Health Disorders

Healthy Aging

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