Key result
Major depressive disorder links to increased cardiovascular risk, driven by visceral fat inflammation and hormonal changes.
Why the study?
The neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms linking mental disorders, particularly major depressive disorder, with cardiovascular disorders remain a matter of debate.
Highlights the pathophysiological role of visceral and epicardial adipose tissue and inflammation as key mediators linking major depressive disorder to increased cardiovascular risk.
Warrants integrated MDD-CVD vigilance; confirms adipose inflammation links but leaves open targeted interventions.
The neurobiological and behavioral underpinnings linking mental disorders, in particular, major depressive disorder (MDD), with cardiovascular disorders are a matter of debate. Recent research focuses on visceral (intra-abdominal and epicardial) adipose tissue and inflammation and their impact on the development of cardiometabolic disorders. Intra-abdominal adipose tissue is defined as an endocrine active fat compartment surrounding inner organs and is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, a risk factor for the later development of cardiovascular disorders. Epicardial (pericardial) adipose tissue is a fat compartment surrounding the heart with close proximity to the arteries supporting the heart. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is an important source of inflammatory mediators that, in concert with other risk factors, plays a leading role in cardiovascular diseases. In conjunction with the behavioral (physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle), psychological (adherence problems), and hormonal (dysfunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis with subsequent hypercortisolism) alterations frequently accompanying MDD, an enhanced risk for cardiovascular disorders results.
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Stapel et al. (2022) conducted a review in Major depressive disorder and cardiovascular disorders. Major depressive disorder is associated with an enhanced risk for cardiovascular disorders, driven by visceral adipose tissue inflammation and behavioral, psychological, and hormonal alterations.
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