A recent study suggests that a person’s biological age, measured through blood tests, could serve as a marker for depression. The research, published in The Journals of Gerontology, examined the link between the aging of white blood cells and mood disorders.
The study focused on a group of women, including 261 with HIV and 179 without. Researchers used blood samples to measure the biological aging of white blood cells, with a specific focus on monocytes. Monocytes play a key role in HIV infection and are often found at elevated levels in people with depression.
Depression levels were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The results showed that the aging of monocytes was linked to non-somatic depression symptoms, such as hopelessness and loss of joy. This connection was found in both groups of women, regardless of their HIV status.
Study co-author Nicole Beaulieu Perez, Ph.D., explained that people with HIV often have physical symptoms like fatigue that are attributed to their chronic illness rather than depression. The findings challenge this view by showing that the biological markers are linked to mood and cognitive symptoms, not just physical ones.
Depression is typically diagnosed based on self-reported symptoms. Identifying a potential biological marker could change how the disorder is understood and treated. Beaulieu Perez noted that depression is not a one-size-fits-all disorder and can look different from person to person. The study reveals biological factors that are often hidden by broad diagnostic categories.
The researchers said more work is needed to fully understand the connection between biological aging and mood disorders. However, the findings offer a new path for future diagnosis and treatment. Beaulieu Perez stated that an aspirational goal in mental health would be to combine a person’s subjective experience with objective biological testing.
Depression and other mood disorders have a major impact on those affected. This study points to a new way of understanding the connection between the body and mind. It also suggests potential new methods for working with that connection. Beaulieu Perez said the findings bring science closer to precision mental health care, especially for high-risk populations, by providing a biological framework that could guide future diagnosis and treatment.
The study’s source is available through Oxford Academic.
