UCL study reveals that brain and body health influence mental wellbeing

The UCL researchers found an important link between poorer organ health and higher depressive symptoms. They also found that the brain plays an important role in associating depression and body health.

A new study led by UCL and conducted in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and the University of Melbourne found that there are multiple biological pathways that involve the brain and organs and play a key part in maintaining mental and physical health.

Dr Ye Ella Tian, lead author of the study from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, said. “Overall, we found multiple significant pathways through which poor organ health may lead to poor brain health, which may in turn lead to poor mental health. By integrating clinical data, brain imaging and a wide array of organ-specific biomarkers in a large population-based cohort, for the first time, we were able to establish multiple pathways involving the brain as a mediating factor and through which poor physical health of body organ systems may lead to poor mental health."

"We identified modifiable lifestyle factors that can potentially lead to improved mental health through their impact on these specific organ systems and neurobiology. Our work provides a holistic characterisation of brain, body, lifestyle and mental health,” added Dr Ye Ella Tian.

UCL Study: More Details

The study used data of over 18,000 individuals, of these 10,334 had reported a diagnosis of either bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression or anxiety, and 7,749 people had no major clinically diagnosed mental or physical health conditions. The scientists used advanced statistical models and found an important link between higher depressive symptoms and poorer organ health.

The organ systems about which researchers studied include muscles, lungs, kidneys, bones, heart, liver, immune and metabolic systems.

They considered the physical health and lifestyle factors in account. The lifestyle factors include diet, exercise, sleep quality, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Professor James Cole, an author of the study from UCL Computer Science, said: “While it’s well-known in healthcare that all the body’s organs and systems influence each other, it’s rarely reflected in research studies. So, it’s exciting to see these results, as it really emphases the value in combining measures from different parts of the body together.”

“This is a significant body of work because we have shown the link between physical health and depression and anxiety, and how that is partially influenced by individual changes in brain structure. Our results suggest that poor physical health across multiple organ systems, such as liver and heart, the immune system and muscles and bones, may lead to subsequent alterations in brain structure. These structural changes of the brain may lead to or exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as neuroticism,” said Professor Andrew Zalesky, an author of the study from the Departments of Psychiatry and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne.

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