Carried out by researchers from UT Southwestern and The Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas, the new study involved 17,989 participants with an average age of 50 to look at the association between exercise, depression, and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The participants had their cardiorespiratory fitness measured and were followed over a number of years to see how many received a diagnosis of depression and how many died from cardiovascular disease.
The researchers found that a high level of fitness in midlife was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of depression compared with a low level of fitness.
A high fitness level was also associated with a 61 percent lower risk of death due to CVD without depression compared with a low level of fitness, and a 56 percent lower risk of death due to CVD after a diagnosis of depression compared with a low fitness level.
The researchers say the findings highlight the many ways in which depression can affect health and mortality, and the importance of overcoming a common problem among patients with the condition, which is finding the motivation to exercise.
“Maintaining a healthy dose of exercise is difficult, but it can be done. It just requires more effort and addressing unique barriers to regular exercise,” says Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, co-author of the study, who adds that previous research has shown that depressed patients can often perform about three-fourths of the exercise they’re asked to do.
To try and help those with depression stick to a regular exercise regime Dr. Trivedi recommends setting aside a consistent time to exercise every day, keeping a record of what you have done to track progress, varying the exercise to avoid boredom, and exercising with a friend to help motivate you and hold you accountable. He also adds that if you do have some days where you don’t manage to exercise don’t get disheartened, just continue with with your regime when you can.
Dr. Trivedi also added that the findings are particularly relevant to younger age groups, explaining that, “The earlier you maintain fitness, the better chance of preventing depression, which in the long run will help lower the risk of heart disease,” and that for some exercise could also be the first line of treatment rather than medication.
“There is value to not starting a medication if it’s not needed,” says Dr. Trivedi. “Being active and getting psychotherapy are sometimes the best prescription, especially in younger patients who don’t have severe depression.”