LONDON: Depression is a direct cause of type 2 diabetes and not just because people may be overweight, new research suggests.
Experts funded by the charity Diabetes UK have found a causal relationship and shared genetics suggesting depression may actually cause type 2 diabetes, which affects around 4.5 million people in the UK, reported German news agency (dpa).
Until now, researchers have known that people with type 2 diabetes are around twice as likely to suffer depression compared with those without diabetes and that people with depression have a higher risk of developing type 2.
However, it has been unclear whether depression caused type 2, or vice versa, or whether other factors are at play.
In the latest study, researchers used a statistical method called Mendelian randomisation to analyse genetic and health information.
They found, for the first time, that depression directly causes an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but not that diabetes causes depression.
The study found that only 36.5 per cent of the effect of depression on type 2 diabetes could be explained by obesity.
Obese people are significantly more likely to have type 2 diabetes than those of normal weight.
The researchers also noted seven genetic variants that contribute to both type 2 diabetes and depression.
These shared genes play a role in insulin secretion or inflammation in the brain, pancreas or fat tissue, with changes in these biological processes potentially explaining how depression increases type 2, they suggested.
While a direct cause was not found for diabetes causing depression, experts still believe that the burden of living with type 2 diabetes can be a factor in developing depression.
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, said: "This hugely important study gives us new insights into the links between genetics, type 2 diabetes and depression, indicating that depression can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
"Type 2 diabetes is complex, with multiple risk factors - and previous research has shown that the condition is more common in people with depression.
"This study gives us greater insight into why and indicates that depression should now be considered a risk factor for type 2.
"This knowledge could help healthcare professionals to improve care and support for people with a history of depression and prevent more cases of type 2 diabetes."
Inga Prokopenko, professor e-One Health and head of statistical multi-omics at the University of Surrey, who led the study, said: "Our discovery illuminates depression as a contributing cause of type 2 diabetes and could help to improve prevention efforts.
"The findings are important for both individuals living with the conditions and healthcare providers, who should consider implementing additional examinations to help prevent type 2 diabetes onset in people suffering from depression."
The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, used data from hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and Finland, including 19,344 people with type 2 diabetes, more than 5,000 people diagnosed with depression and 153,079 who self-reported depression.
The researchers concluded: "Our results highlight the importance to prevent type 2 diabetes at the onset of depressive symptoms, and the need to maintain a healthy weight in the context of its effect on depression and type 2 diabetes co-morbidity."
--BERNAMA-dpa
Bernama
Sat Sep 09 2023
Researchers for the first time found that, depression directly causes an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but not that diabetes causes depression. - FREEIMAGES
Mesyuarat perundingan Enam Pihak Arab bincangkan perkembangan di Gaza
Mesyuarat perundingan Jawatankuasa Enam Pihak Arab itu membincangkan perkembangan serangan Israel ke atas Semenanjung Gaza.
Chegubard didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen KL esok - Peguam
Badrul Hisham Shaharin atau dikenali Chegubard akan didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur esok atas pertuduhan memfitnah dan menghasut.
Pulau Pinang, kerajaan pusat bekerjasama tarik pelaburan semikonduktor
Kerajaan Pulau Pinang akan bekerjasama dengan Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk meneruskan usaha menarik pelaburan dalam sektor semikonduktor, termasuk segmen reka bentuk litar bersepadu (IC) di negeri itu.
Rakyat Malaysia di Jordan jadi duta produk PMKS negara
Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Datuk Ewon Benedick menyarankan rakyat Malaysia yang menetap di Jordan supaya memainkan peranan sebagai “duta” untuk mempromosikan produk perusahaan mikro kecil dan sederhana (PMKS) SERTA koperasi negara.
Mohamed Khaled tiba di Indonesia, dijadual bertemu Prabowo
Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin tiba di Jakarta hari ini untuk lawatan kerja rasmi sulung beliau ke Indonesia sejak memegang jawatan itu.
SPRM mohon maklumat dari Jerman
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memohon maklumat terkini daripada pihak berkuasa Jerman mengenai dana bon 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) yang dipercayai digunakan untuk membeli kereta mewah di negara itu pada 26 Okt 2022.
SPRM siasat pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air
Seorang pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air disiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) kerana disyaki melantik beberapa syarikat yang mempunyai kepentingan dengannya membabitkan beberapa projek pembekalan melibatkan peruntukan kira-kira RM300,000.
Kembangkan kandungan tempatan melalui AI
Menurut Setiausaha Agung Organisasi Kerjasama Digital (DCO) Deemah Al Yahya, terdapat 2.7 peratus daripada penduduk dunia tidak berhubung malah tidak mempunyai sambungan asas internet. Beliau turut berkata infrastruktur pengkomputeran setiap negara perlu mempunyai kemampuan untuk mengembangkan kandungan tempatan khususnya yang melibatkan penggunaan AI.
AI tidak dapat ganti guru
Menteri Pendidikan Rwanda, Gaspard Twagirayezu berkata kepesatan teknologi AI dalam pendidikan tidak dapat menggantikan guru malah membantu guru dalam menyediakan bahan pengajaran yang bermanfaat kepada pelajar.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 28 April 2024.