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Pathways linking physical and mental health: The role of brain structure and environment

Tian, Y. E.; Cole, J. H.; Bullmore, E. T.; Zalesky, A.

2024-01-16 psychiatry and clinical psychology
10.1101/2024.01.15.24301190 medRxiv
Show abstract

Depression and anxiety are prevalent in people with a chronic physical illness. Increasing evidence suggests that co-occurring physical and mental illness is associated with shared biological pathways. However, little is known about the brains role in mediating links between physical and mental health. Using multimodal brain imaging and organ-specific physiological markers from the UK Biobank, we establish prospective associations between the baseline health of seven body organs and mental health outcomes at 4-14 years follow-up, focussing on depression and anxiety. We reveal multiple pathways, mediated by the brain, through which poor organ health may lead to poor mental health. We identify several lifestyle factors that influence mental health through their selective impact on the physiology of specific organ systems and brain structure. Our work reveals the interplay between brain, body and lifestyle and their collective influence on mental health. Pathways elucidated here may inform behavioral interventions to mitigate or prevent the synergistic co-occurrence of physical and mental disorders.

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