BEING A COUCH POTATO PUTS ADOLESCENTS AT RISK FOR MENTAL ILLNESS

In the March 10, 2020 edition of the Asheville Citizen Times, An Associated Press aricle quoted Aaron Kandola, a Ph.D. student at University College London's findings that adolescents who are inactive for a large portion of their days during adolecence are at increased risk for depression by age 18. There was a correlation of the amount of activity for more than 4200 adolesents as measured for 10 hours for at least 3 days when they were 12, 14, and 16 years of age. For instance, an additional 60 minutes of inactivity each day at ages 12, 14,and 16 led to an increase in depression scores of 11%, 8% and 10.5% respectively by age 18. In addition, those with high levels of inactivity at these ages had 28% higher depression scores at age 18. Unfortunately, it seems that adolescents are becoming less active. This study does not prove a causal connection of inactivity and risk for depression but the correlation is strong. The study was published in the February 11, 2020 Lancet Psychiatry Journal.

The good news is that even light physical activity seems to protect from depression. So, small changes in adolescents environments with opportunities for movement, can make a difference. Let's get moving!

EARLY MENARCHE [START OF MENSTRUAL PERIODS] AND DEPRESSION

C. Joinson, Ph.D. et al, report in the June 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on their longitudinal study of the impact of early menarche and the development of depressive symptoms.  They found that early menarche was correlated with increased depressive symptoms in 13 and 14 year old females but not for 16.5, 18 and 19 year old females.  Depressive symptoms increase over the course of adolescence for females but the increase is more rapid in early adolescence and this is two fold [100 %] increase.  They defined early menarche as menstrual periods beginning before menarche represents 15.5% of the sample. 

Unfortunately, earlier menarche seems on the rise. This means that there are more and more adolescent girls who are at risk for having depression at an earlier age and this predicts more depressive episodes, with a significant impact on their lives, including an inceased risk for suicide. 

What to do? Stop using hormones in producing food? Stop exposing pregnant women and young children to endocrine altering chemicals? Early identification and treatment of depressive symptoms?  Your ideas?