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The Cutting Edge

Behavioral Risk Factors for Depression Vary with Age

Behavioral risk factors — smoking, obesity, limited physical activity and a less healthy diet, among others — strongly predict the likelihood of depression, UCLA researchers have found. That likelihood increases with each additional risk factor a person possesses, and the risk factors most strongly linked to depression change with age.

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Previous studies had identified behavioral risk factors for depression, but it was unclear how these variables changed across the lifespan. This study sought to identify how the risk factors varied among three age groups: younger (18-to-39 years old), middle-aged (40 to 59) and older (60 to 99) adults.

The researchers collected data from more than 30,000 survey respondents, who answered questions about their lifestyle, including smoking, weight, physical activity and diet, as well as their history of depression. The team looked for correlations between the risk factors and depression, controlling for variables such as gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Sixteen percent of all participants had a prior diagnosis of depression. Smoking was most strongly associated with depression, especially in younger people: Younger smokers had 2.7 times greater odds of having had depression, while middle-aged and older smokers had 1.8 times the odds, compared to nonsmokers of the corresponding age.

Obesity was the next most important risk factor: younger, middle-aged and older obese respondents had 65 percent, 54 percent and 67 percent greater likelihood of depression, respectively, compared to non-obese counterparts. Participants who had little physical activity were more likely to have depression as they grew older. And a less healthy diet was linked to depression in the middle-aged and older groups only.

Compared to having no risk factors, having one risk factor increased the odds of having had depression (1.7 times). When a person had two risk factors, the odds of developing depression more than doubled. Having three risk factors increased the odds of developing depression by more than threefold, and a person with all four risk factors had almost six times the likelihood of depression.

The study is the largest yet to examine the behavioral risk factors for depression across age groups. Given the psychological, social and economic toll of depression, as well as its growing prevalence, predicting a person’s risk at any age is critical, as are age-specific prevention programs, according to the authors. They said further research about nuanced risk factors, including gender and ethnicity, are warranted.

“Behavioral Risk Factors for Self-reported Depression across the Lifespan,” Mental Health & Prevention, September 21, 2018


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Winter 2019

Winter 2019
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IN THIS ISSUE
  • Forever Linked
  • UCLA Team Helps Create Facility for Ugandan Women Who Suffer Childbirth Injuries
  • Aggressive Prostate and Lung Cancers Are Driven by Common Mechanisms
  • Behavioral Risk Factors for Depression Vary with Age
  • UCLA Scientists Use Stem Cells to Study Genetics of Germ Cell Tumors
  • Promising Drug Strategy Could Slow Neurodegeneration
  • Two-cells-in-one Combo Could Be Platform to Bolster Leukemia Treatment
  • Cancer Treatments May Be Linked to Decline in Cognitive Performance
  • Beyond the Ivory Tower
  • Parasite Sleuth: Elissa Hallem, PhD
  • Heartbreak. And Hope
  • The Littlest Wookiee
  • The Long Road to Effectively Treat CF
  • Eat, Drink and Be Wary
  • The Doctor & the Refugee
  • Awards & Honors
  • In Memoriam
  • The Big Weekend
  • In Memoriam
  • Innovation and Courage Honored at UCLA Visionary Ball
  • $10 Million Gift Advances Programs in Women’s Health
  • Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  • UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital Hosts 19th Annual Party on the Pier
  • UCLA Operation Mend Marches Forward
  • UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind Celebrates 20 Years of Supporting School Fitness Programs
  • UCLA-Weizmann Institute Collaboration Advances Depression Research
  • UCLA Urology Honors Two Physicians
  • Dr. Anthony C. Arnold Named Inaugural Chair in Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Gifts
  • A Drop in the Bucket
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