Post by Angie on Oct 26, 2008 14:07:48 GMT -5
PCOS and Emotional/Mental Disorders
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"An emerging body of evidence suggests that Insulin Resistance, the root cause of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and other related conditions such as Metabolic Syndrome, also plays a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Conditions like Type 2 Diabetes and depression that are common in PCOS sufferers may also make them vulnerable to dementia."
- Viewpoints: Healing News from Insulite Laboratories, September 2004
Insulin Resistance-related Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as polycystic ovaries, is being increasingly regarded as a factor in emotional and mental problems.
Characterized by multiple abnormal cysts in the ovaries, PCOS is linked to other serious health conditions, such as the cluster of Cardiovascular Diseases called Metabolic Syndrome and reversible Pre-Diabetes, which, if left unchecked, can lead to full-blown, irreversible Type 2 Diabetes.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is one of the most common endocrine (or hormonal) disorders and is characterized by multiple abnormal cysts in the ovaries. It’s a disorder that affects an estimated 5-10% of women of childbearing age and is one of the leading causes of infertility. The disorder, also called Polycystic Ovarian Disease, can lead to a wide variety of other serious health conditions, such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and some types of cancer. The root cause of PCOS is Insulin Resistance.
Researchers have long know that both Diabetes and being overweight raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. A new study from the Joslin Diabetes Center suggests that the malfunctioning insulin receptors seen with Insulin Resistance may be a link between those disorders. “The brains of specially-bred lab mice show the same biological changes seen in Alzheimer’s Disease,” says researcher C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., one of the study’s authors. “We can say that based on this evidence, people with insulin resistance might be at risk for developing these kinds of brain changes.”
A growing body of evidence suggests that Insulin Resistance and glucose abnormalities may contribute to the pathophysiology (the physiology of abnormal states) and symptoms of depression, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental disorders.
“Insulin resistance is clearly present in Alzheimer's and may be linked to depression, which in some cases precedes Alzheimer's,” Dr. Natalie Rosgon of the International Psychogeriatric Association said in an interview. She theorizes that persistent, untreated Insulin Resistance among patients with depression leads to the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's.
The evidence underlying the theory includes neuro-endocrine conditions described in both disorders and tests show that increased levels of glucose in the blood stream and decreased cerebral blood flow in specific areas of the brains of patients put them at risk for Alzheimer's disease, years before dementia occurs.
The exact interaction of these conditions is somewhat unclear – it’s part of a complex neurobiological jigsaw puzzle that scientists are still studying. But early data suggests that Alzheimer’s patients show improved memory after an infusion of insulin, which speaks to the role of glucose metabolism in the physiology of dementia.
Depression or mood swings also are common in women with PCOS. Although more research is needed to determine the exact causes of this link, there are studies that link depression to Diabetes. Therefore, in PCOS, depression may be related to Insulin Resistance. It also could be a result of the hormonal imbalances and the cosmetic symptoms of the condition, such as acne, hair loss and other symptoms of PCOS. Women with Diabetes, who have twice the risk of developing depression, showed improvement in depressive instances when they received education and treatment for Insulin Resistance.
Patients with depression and other affective disorders should be regularly screened for Insulin Resistance. While there has been a tendency in the medical community to view depression only as a mental illness, there is growing evidence that the imbalance of glucose and insulin in the blood stream plays a far more serious role than previously thought.
Studies have shown that a multi-faceted approach is necessary to address the symptoms of these syndromes – a single pharmaceutical or even a combination of them, will not eradicate or reverse these conditions. You must also combine nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support system that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"An emerging body of evidence suggests that Insulin Resistance, the root cause of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and other related conditions such as Metabolic Syndrome, also plays a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Conditions like Type 2 Diabetes and depression that are common in PCOS sufferers may also make them vulnerable to dementia."
- Viewpoints: Healing News from Insulite Laboratories, September 2004
Insulin Resistance-related Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), also known as polycystic ovaries, is being increasingly regarded as a factor in emotional and mental problems.
Characterized by multiple abnormal cysts in the ovaries, PCOS is linked to other serious health conditions, such as the cluster of Cardiovascular Diseases called Metabolic Syndrome and reversible Pre-Diabetes, which, if left unchecked, can lead to full-blown, irreversible Type 2 Diabetes.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is one of the most common endocrine (or hormonal) disorders and is characterized by multiple abnormal cysts in the ovaries. It’s a disorder that affects an estimated 5-10% of women of childbearing age and is one of the leading causes of infertility. The disorder, also called Polycystic Ovarian Disease, can lead to a wide variety of other serious health conditions, such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and some types of cancer. The root cause of PCOS is Insulin Resistance.
Researchers have long know that both Diabetes and being overweight raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. A new study from the Joslin Diabetes Center suggests that the malfunctioning insulin receptors seen with Insulin Resistance may be a link between those disorders. “The brains of specially-bred lab mice show the same biological changes seen in Alzheimer’s Disease,” says researcher C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., one of the study’s authors. “We can say that based on this evidence, people with insulin resistance might be at risk for developing these kinds of brain changes.”
A growing body of evidence suggests that Insulin Resistance and glucose abnormalities may contribute to the pathophysiology (the physiology of abnormal states) and symptoms of depression, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental disorders.
“Insulin resistance is clearly present in Alzheimer's and may be linked to depression, which in some cases precedes Alzheimer's,” Dr. Natalie Rosgon of the International Psychogeriatric Association said in an interview. She theorizes that persistent, untreated Insulin Resistance among patients with depression leads to the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's.
The evidence underlying the theory includes neuro-endocrine conditions described in both disorders and tests show that increased levels of glucose in the blood stream and decreased cerebral blood flow in specific areas of the brains of patients put them at risk for Alzheimer's disease, years before dementia occurs.
The exact interaction of these conditions is somewhat unclear – it’s part of a complex neurobiological jigsaw puzzle that scientists are still studying. But early data suggests that Alzheimer’s patients show improved memory after an infusion of insulin, which speaks to the role of glucose metabolism in the physiology of dementia.
Depression or mood swings also are common in women with PCOS. Although more research is needed to determine the exact causes of this link, there are studies that link depression to Diabetes. Therefore, in PCOS, depression may be related to Insulin Resistance. It also could be a result of the hormonal imbalances and the cosmetic symptoms of the condition, such as acne, hair loss and other symptoms of PCOS. Women with Diabetes, who have twice the risk of developing depression, showed improvement in depressive instances when they received education and treatment for Insulin Resistance.
Patients with depression and other affective disorders should be regularly screened for Insulin Resistance. While there has been a tendency in the medical community to view depression only as a mental illness, there is growing evidence that the imbalance of glucose and insulin in the blood stream plays a far more serious role than previously thought.
Studies have shown that a multi-faceted approach is necessary to address the symptoms of these syndromes – a single pharmaceutical or even a combination of them, will not eradicate or reverse these conditions. You must also combine nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program, nutritional guidance and a support system that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices.
