Depression, adverse childhood events and sleep disturbances linked to changes in the immune system
Adverse childhood experiences and sleep disturbances interfere with immune system regulation, shows research from the University of Eastern Finland. These changes were observed in a population that already carried a significant burden of psychological symptoms such as depression. Major depressive disorder (MDD), adverse childhood experiences and sleep disturbances are all characterized by increased physical morbidity and changes in the way our immune system works. However, the interrelationships between the related disease mechanisms are not fully understood yet. The study analyzed the complex biological mechanisms that are associated with MDD, with the hope of opening up new avenues for increasingly personalized treatment. There is a need to conduct further research into the underlying factors of MDD, as it is one of the leading causes of disability globally. Changes in immune system regulation have been suggested to be a key factor in mediating the disease burden associated wi...