A new paper in JAMA shows a remarkable link between long-term exposure to common levels of air pollution and late-onset depression diagnosis (defined as 64 years old).
The authors, of course, controlled for all relevant variables and found the link was statistically significant, and that the three offending pollutants were PM2.5, O3, and NO2 (not Star Wars character names).
Dr. Samoon Ahmad does a wonderful job, explaining why common air pollutants can contribute to a vast array of neurological issues, including depression.
And if you guessed chronic inflammation leading to neuroinflammation, you’d be right.
Here’s some of the science, courtesy of Dr. Ahmad.
For many years, chronic inflammation was believed to be something that spared the brain because it was assumed that it was protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a semipermeable membrane that separates the central nervous system (CNS) from the rest of the body. Recent studies have found that this is not entirely accurate, and that the CNS is constantly communicating with the peripheral immune system via neurotransmitters, hormones, and pro- and anti-inflammatory proteins released by immune cells known as cytokines.
These interactions can influence glial cells, which carry out neuronal support functions and regulate the brain’s specialized immune system, and astrocytes, which contribute to the immune system of the CNS and regulate the permeability of the BBB. Both astrocytes and microglia can produce pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. They can also initiate stress responses and inflammation—i.e. neuroinflammation.
There are a few obvious takeaways.
First, air pollution matters.
Oh, I know the majority of American evangelical Christians will poo-poo the air pollution thing (not entirely sure that’s how you spell poo-poo), but researchers are finding more and more links between air pollution and health.
And have you ever noticed how, even pre-Covid, China’s major cities — awash in pollution — were awash in mask-wearers? This is before Covid. Everyone knew pollution was awful for you.
Pollution seems to affect our entire bodies.
So the Christian church needs to take very seriously God’s command to take care of his creation. Not to treat it as some plaything for our, well, things.
Second, if you’re elderly and if you’ve been living in a polluted environment and you’re scratching your head about why you’ve been feeling so depressed — and if you’ve been wondering whether this is some faith issue — or whether you’re at-fault, or just basically why? This could be the answer.
There are all kinds of reasons elderly folks develop depression later in life, and this could be yet another.
I point out this study to tell you that, if you’ve made it into your 60s and are suddenly experiencing new depression, don’t beat yourself up and ask yourself dark existential questions about why (although that goes with the territory). It very well could be that you’ve been exposed to terrible air pollution your whole life.
I think that a lot of elderly people assume they’ll have the whole life thing figured out by that age, and that as they approach heaven, heaven will approach them, and with most of life over, they won’t feel so crushed by the weight of it.
But elderly people do experience late-onset depression, despite a lack of symptoms earlier in life, and there can be a horrible stigma, telling others about it.
After all, which wise grandmother or grandfather wants to tell their child or grandchildren about their brand new depression? Their Bible study group?
It’s lonely for anyone with depression, but among elderly Christians, I think the stigma is probably the worst.
But don’t despair.
There are loads of reasons why you might be feeling this way, and I highly doubt any of them has to do with any spiritual issue.
So if you’re struggling, please, it’s never too late to get help.
Find a psychiatrist here.
Find a therapist here.
[Photo: Pexels, free stock photgraphy].
