Can your kidneys make you sad?
It almost sounds like a bad joke, but the punchline is promising: New research from scientists in China is shedding light on an unexpected link between mental health and healthy kidney function.
Specifically, they found a strong correlation between symptoms of depression and a 39% chance of rapid kidney decline in healthy adults whose kidney function was otherwise normal. The team gathered data from just over 4,500 participants who were at least 45 years old. The mean age was 59, and men made up 45 percent of the study population.
These conclusions build upon previous research, which indicates that depression accelerates the progression of chronic kidney disease, or CKD. CKD refers to the gradual loss of kidney function, which allows dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes to accumulate instead of being filtered out.
While correlation does not imply causation, the study’s results imply a need for interventions that account for mental health screenings and the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Study authors believe kidney decline could be due to a number of characteristics also associated with depression, such as inflammation and poor health behaviors, including improper nutrition and reduced physical activity.
Importantly, researchers only assessed kidney functions at the start and end of the study, and an association between depression and kidney disease is not the same thing as a cause.
However, the scientists hope the study lays the groundwork for more effective psychosocial interventions as part of the first steps toward chronic kidney disease prevention.