Could an Infection Put You at Risk of Depression?

Infections and autoimmune disorders can take their toll on your physical wellness, but now Danish researchers have found that these disorders can affect other aspects of your wellbeing. According to their new study, published June 12^th in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, infections and autoimmune disorders may increase your risk of developing mental health problems, such as depression, later in life.

Of the three million people who were involved in the study, those who were hospitalised for infections were 62% more likely to go on to develop a mood disorder than with people not hospitalised for infections. Likewise, those who were hospitalised for an autoimmune disease – which occur when your immune system goes awry and attacks your body’s own cells or tissues – were 45% more likely to subsequently develop a mood disorder.

The study included people born in Denmark between 1945 and 1996 who were followed until the end of 2010. The results also revealed a correlation between risk of mood disorder and the number of times a person was hospitalised. Compared to those who weren’t hospitalised for an infection, those who were hospitalised three times with infections during the study had double the risk of a mood disorder, and those who were hospitalised seven times had triple the risk.

Scientists hypothesise that the inflammation that infections or autoimmune disease bring may affect your brain in a way that raises your risk of mood disorders, and the new study supports this theory. The researchers commented that they estimate infections could be responsible for up to 12% of mood disorders, but the link first needs to be confirmed in further studies. However, it’s important to bear in mind that, at this point, only an association has been found.

According to Ian Gotlib, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, who was not involved in the study, the researchers were unable to prove that infections or autoimmune diseases are the cause of mood disorders, as other factors may explain the link, such as stress or the experience of hospitalisation. He added that the study was “impressive” and raised important questions, but future studies need to untangle whether infections are really the cause of mood disorders, or if the two just happen to occur together.

Categories: autoimmune disease, autoimmune disorder, autoimmune disorders, infection, Infections, mood disorder, mood disorders, Research

Does Celiac Disease Give Greater Osteoporosis Risk?

According to a new report, people who suffer with celiac disease are at risk for developing osteoporosis later on in their life. This may be due to the fact that those with the condition do not correctly absorb calcium and vitamin D into their system. These two nutrients are absolutely essential for proper bone function and bone strength.

Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder that can damage and badly affect the small intestine. It does not allow nutrients to absorb properly when foods containing gluten are ingested and this can be very problematic for the body. Gluten is found in a number of foodstuffs such as wheat, rye, barley and triticale so problems can be very common. Individuals with celiac disease must eliminate foods with this protein or risk further problems in their body. If it is left unmanaged, celiac disease can lead to rapid bone destruction and severe osteoporosis.

This was certainly true for the Bobel family. This family first learned that they were at risk for this debilitating disease when Rebecca Bobel, 72, fractured her pelvis, hip and tailbone when she was only 50 years old.

At this point she was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the time and doctors later learned that she carries the gene for celiac disease. Bobel then went on to develop hypothyroidism and vitamin D deficiencies, which is are known to be very common in people who have autoimmune diseases. Today, she continues to receive treatment for each of these conditions and they have a bad effect on her health and wellbeing.

People with a single autoimmune disorder can be at risk for developing other autoimmune disorders too. This was extremely apparent with the Bobel family, where it was seen that there was more than one disorder in each family member who was treated.

Does Celiac Disease Give Greater Osteoporosis Risk?

Categories: autoimmune, autoimmune disorder, bobel family, celiac, celiac disease, Disease, Family, risk