2024-05-09 21:32:01
So medications prescribed for coronary heart disease and depression, when used in combination, may reduce inflammation and prevent the development of cardiomyopathy, adds lead author Dr. Lea Davis, associate professor of genetic medicine at the Vanderbilt Institute of Genetics: “This work suggests that chronic. low-grade inflammation may contribute significantly to depression and cardiovascular disease.”
Low grade inflammation is sufficient
This is not the first research to document the link between depression and other serious health conditions. Up to 44% of patients with coronary heart disease, the most common form of cardiovascular disease, are diagnosed with major depression. However, the biological relationship between the two diseases is still not well understood.
Inflammation, a possible link, between the 2 conditions: changes in the levels of inflammatory markers are observed in the 2 diseases, suggesting that common biological pathways are connecting. neuroinflammation in depression to atherosclerotic inflammation in coronary artery disease.
The study It uses a cross-sectional association analysis technique to control single-nucleotide polymorphisms (genetic variations) associated with the expression of genes associated with coronary artery disease and depression. This technique allows here
- Identify 185 genes significantly associated with depression and coronary heart disease;
- this suggests a concomitant predisposition to depression and coronary artery disease.
Depressive coronary artery disease concept
If the data show a low prevalence of the combination of the 2 comorbidities in the general population, it is certain, the researchers suggest, because medications prescribed for coronary artery disease and depression, such as statins and antidepressants, could prevent reduce the development of cardiomyopathy by reducing inflammation.
The team is continuing its research to determine the pathways involved and the optimal treatments, but is already asking doctors consider patients’ heart and brain health holistically, particularly when developing plans to manage depression or cardiovascular disease.
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