If you or someone you know suffers from depression, this news could help. An article on the MedicineNet website reports that 35 minutes of exercise a day could help lower the risk of depression, even among people with a genetic predisposition for the ailment.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston analyzed two years’ worth of medical records and genetic information from close to 8,000 people. They calculated a genetic risk score for each person that predicted the likelihood of depressive episodes.
The data showed that people with a higher genetic risk were likely to be diagnosed with depression within two years, but physically active people with the same score— or even a higher one— were less likely to suffer from depression.
For every four hours of exercise a week, the risk of depressive episodes decreased by 17%. Both intense, aerobic workouts and low-intensity practices like stretching and yoga showed the same effect. Getting active may be the key to mental as well as physical well-being.
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