Citation

Farioli-Vecchioli S, Sacchetti S, di Robilant VN, Cutuli D. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2018; 16(3): 308-326.

Affiliation

Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome. Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Bentham Science Publishers)

DOI

10.2174/1570159X15666170912113852

PMID

28901279

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In adulthood, depression is the most common type of mental illness and will be the second leading cause of disease by 2020. Major depression dramatically affects the function of the central nervous system and degrades life quality, especially during aging. Several mechanisms underlie the pathophysiology of depressive illness, given it has a multifactorial etiology. Human and animal studies have demonstrated that depression is mainly associated with imbalances in neurotransmitters and neurotrophins, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis alterations, brain volume changes, neurogenesis dysfunction, and dysregulation of inflammatory pathways. Also the gut microbiota may influence mental health outcomes. Although depression is not a consequence of normal aging, depressive disorders are common in later life, even if often undiagnosed or mis-diagnosed in old age. When untreated, depression reduces lifetime, worsens medical illnesses, enhances health care costs and is the primary suicide cause among older people. To date the underpinnings of depression in the elderly are still to be understood and the pharmacological treatment is the mostly used therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Since sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits have recently emerged as crucial contributors to the genesis and course of depression, in the present review we have focused on the effects of physical activity and omega-3 fatty acids on depressive illness in the elderly.

RESULTS: A growing literature indicates that both exercise and dietary interventions can promote mental health throughout the lifespan.

CONCLUSION: From here the awareness emerges that an active lifestyle and a balanced diet may constitute valid low-cost prevention strategies to counteract depressive illness in the elderly.

Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Language: en

Keywords

Aging; Depression; Diet; Exercise; Late-Life Depression; Mood disorders; Omega-3 fatty acids.; Physical activity