Scientist Carlos López-Otín sought the definition of health beyond “the absence of disease” and concludes that health is balance and equity but, above all, “it is silence of the body”. However, when there are emotional problems “you continually hear noises in your mind, a noise that can be subtle, they are not voices, they are whispers.”
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Researcher Carlos López-Otín in an interview with EFE in a hotel in Madrid. EFE/Dani Gonzalez
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Researcher Carlos López-Otín in an interview with EFE in a hotel in Madrid. EFE/Dani Gonzalez
Researcher of the human genome, cancer or aging, Carlos López-Otín talks to EFEsalud about his new book, “The lightness of dragonflies” (Paidós), a metaphor for the fragility of mental health, a journey that the writer has undertaken towards your own interior.
The biochemist (Sabiñánigo, Huesca, 1958) went through his own process of depression and “profound social disappointment” when part of a research he was carrying out at the University of Oviedo was ruined, he suffered harassment in the workplace and had to withdraw some scientific articles due to errors in figures and complementary photographs that did not influence the main message of the study, as explained at the time.
“I spent two years in absolute social silence as personal recovery therapy. And I wrote some of the most important scientific articles of my life and a book,” says the scientist at the Sorbonne University in Paris, also a researcher of minority diseases such as progeria.
In his work, López-Otín criticizes mental health deniers and calls for an end to “the impunity of abusers and harassers” responsible directly or indirectly for physical and mental harm and suicide.
“We need measures to anticipate the wave of anxiety and sadness that is approaching. Every year, human beings who believe they are not suited to the current system take their own lives,” he underlines.
“Integrative, urgent and committed action is needed,” he adds, “and don’t think that this
It is therefore not enough to rely on the “urgent effects” of drugs, such as antidepressants and anxiolytics, but rather to undertake integrated actions not only of Medicine, but also of Psychology, Sociology or Economics to address a problem that concerns 1 person out of every 8 inhabitants of the planet.
Carlos López-Otín seeks the keys to health and in addition to nutrition, exercise, sleep and social adaptation, toxins and stress must be avoided. “The strength of health lies not in individual determinants, but in the strength of all of them.”
And it refers to stress, a response mechanism to protect us from adversity, but if it remains chronic, if it keeps us on alert, it ends up generating physiological responses that “lead us to obesity, depression, cardiovascular and neurological diseases…”. ”.
Because, he insists, emotional health affects physical health and leads to cardiovascular disorders, premature aging, oncological problems…
«And it is bidirectional, the aphorism ‘Mens sana in corpore sana’ must be completed with ‘Corpore sano in mens sana’.
“Somatic health and mental health are parts of the same equation,” he determines.
López-Otín never stops referring to the devastation caused by the floods in the Valencian Community and Castilla-La Macha and launches an appeal for empathy to “put ourselves in the place of all those who have lost so much, including their lives” in this catastrophe .
According to him, these floods, which have killed more than two hundred people and caused extensive material damage, demonstrate that we are “fragile and vulnerable”.
“We need a great deal of humility to realize our limitations. We must leave behind this arrogance, which we believe we possess thanks to technology, and make further progress in human relationships. This is what can help us minimize, alleviate, alleviate all the damage that is coming, a damage of social, economic and, above all, emotional difficulties.”
technological advances, López-Otín dedicates space, in his most philosophical book, to artificial intelligence and highlights the great strides made in medicine and in favor of health.
“It takes a human gaze and a bit of humility. We cannot say that algorithms make decisions about the future, about our lives and about the entire world. No, we will have to do it, otherwise our world will be made of robots,” he comments in the interview.
In the book he warns that the implementation of “extreme medical data without self-criticism” can cause an excess of predictivism and an “exaggerated therapeutic intrusion” in pre-patients.
“Let’s continue to teach machines, but let’s not forget to educate people”, concludes the author of the “Trilogy of Life”.
In his books, López-Otín mentions in the acknowledgments Letizia Ortíz, the queen, one of the people who reads his manuscripts before publishing them.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Carlos López-Otín, Expert in Health and Genetics
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. López-Otín. It’s a pleasure to have you here today to discuss your insights on health and your latest book, The Lightness of Dragonflies. Your perspective on health as “the silence of the body” is particularly intriguing. Could you elaborate on what you mean by that?
Carlos López-Otín: Thank you for having me. When I say that health is the “silence of the body,” I’m referring to a state of balance and equity—a condition where our mental and physical selves are in harmony. It is only when we face emotional difficulties that we start to perceive the “noise” in our minds. This noise can manifest as stress, anxiety, or depression, which interrupts that silence and disrupts our overall well-being.
Time.news Editor: That’s a compelling viewpoint. In your experience, how do emotional problems lead to these disturbances, and what steps can individuals take to find that silence again?
Carlos López-Otín: Emotional problems create a state of disarray that can echo throughout our bodies. For instance, chronic stress can weaken our immune systems and contribute to conditions like obesity and heart diseases. To regain that silence, individuals need to adopt a holistic approach to their health—this means addressing nutrition, exercise, sleep, and social connections, but also understanding the impact of stress and toxins in our lives. Integrating disciplines like psychology and sociology into our approach is critical, rather than relying solely on medications like antidepressants.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned your own experience with depression and the challenges you faced during your career. How has that shaped your understanding of mental health?
Carlos López-Otín: My experiences have been a profound teacher. I spent two years in social silence, which forced me to confront my inner struggles and reevaluate my priorities. During this time, I wrote some of my most important work. It was a journey of healing that helped me understand the fragility of mental health firsthand, and it instilled in me a resolve to advocate for awareness and support for those facing similar struggles.
Time.news Editor: In your research, you highlight the importance of addressing the “impunity of abusers and harassers.” Why do you believe this is critical to the mental health discourse?
Carlos López-Otín: The environment we work and live in greatly affects our mental health. Abusers and harassers create an atmosphere of fear and stress, which can have lasting repercussions on individuals’ well-being. We must hold them accountable and create safe spaces for people to thrive. Ignoring these issues only exacerbates the mental health crisis we are witnessing globally.
Time.news Editor: As you look ahead, you’ve noted that a wave of anxiety and sadness is approaching. What measures do you think society should adopt to combat this impending crisis?
Carlos López-Otín: We need an integrative, urgent, and committed response that encompasses all aspects of life—medical care, psychological services, community support, and social policy. We can’t treat mental health as a one-off issue relying solely on medication. Instead, we must create a comprehensive system that supports individuals holistically. This includes fostering environments where people feel safe, heard, and understood.
Time.news Editor: if you could leave our readers with one thought on how to maintain balance and silence in their own lives, what would it be?
Carlos López-Otín: Embrace the interconnectedness of mind and body. Pay attention to your emotional health as you would your physical health. Take time to disconnect from stressors, practice mindfulness, and cultivate empathy not just for others, but for yourself as well. This balance is crucial—not just for individual well-being, but for the health of our communities and societies at large.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. López-Otín, for sharing your invaluable insights on health, both mental and physical. It’s clear that achieving balance is a personal and collective journey we must embark on together.
Carlos López-Otín: Thank you for the conversation. Together, we can foster a more understanding and compassionate world.