Researchers at King’s College London report that mental illness is linked to faster aging in the body, resulting in a higher biological age. This finding was shared with attendees of the European Congress of Psychiatry.
The team examined data from more than 110,000 participants in the British Biobank, exploring how depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder relate to 168 diverse blood metabolites.
Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder exhibited blood markers suggesting they were approximately two years older than their true biological age.
Earlier research from 2019 indicated that men with mental health issues tend to have shorter lifespans by about a decade and women by around seven years, with accelerated biological aging considered a potential contributing factor.
The scientists aim to translate these metabolic markers into practical guidance for psychiatrists, enabling more effective strategies to improve patients’ physical health and longevity.