1 in 4 cases of depression may be caused by off-kilter body clocks
Depression has long been linked to chemical imbalances, but many cases may actually be related to disrupted body clocks that could be treated with melatonin therapies and early morning sun exposure
A recent study indicates that approximately one in four cases of depression may be caused by disruptions in an individual's internal body clock, known as circadian depression. This condition, which responds poorly to conventional antidepressants, may be managed using melatonin supplements or behavioral adjustments such as getting morning sunlight exposure.
Ian Hickie, a researcher at the University of Sydney, explains that a well-functioning body clock is crucial for maintaining overall health, affecting mood, metabolism, concentration, sleep-wake cycles, and more. When the body clock is disrupted, individuals may experience persistent fatigue, poor concentration, weight gain, and impaired sleep, as well as behavioral changes.
The research involved surveying over 10,000 individuals with severe, recurrent depression in Australia. Of these, 23% were identified as having circadian depression, exhibiting signs such as being evening types, sleeping later than most, feeling extremely tired upon waking, increased sleep during depressive episodes, and experiencing strong seasonal variations in mood, energy, sleep, and appetite.
These individuals with circadian depression typically had more severe symptoms compared to those without, including thoughts of suicide, earlier onset of symptoms (around 18 years old, compared to 23 in the non-circadian group), and are more likely to have genetic variants associated with sleep issues, higher body weight, inflammation, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The researchers suggest that modern lifestyle factors, particularly artificial light exposure during nighttime hours, may contribute to circadian depression by disrupting the body's natural rhythms. As night workers face unique challenges in maintaining a healthy body clock, the researchers plan to conduct a clinical trial to explore the effectiveness of melatonin supplementation in treating this form of depression, as melatonin plays a role in regulating sleep-wake cycles.
Written by urgent.news from New Scientist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
