A growing body of research is shedding light on the link between metabolic health and mental illness, suggesting that metabolic dysfunction, particularly insulin resistance, could play a significant role in the development and management of mental health illnesses.
Findings from Swiss Re's UK Disability Income Protection Claims Audit show that 94% of claimants with a BMI over 35, who had been out of work for more than a year, reported mood disorders or depressive symptoms, pointing to a potential connection between metabolic issues and mental health.
Swiss Re chief medical officer Debbie Smith explained that metabolic psychiatry is a developing field that focuses on how metabolic imbalances – like those caused by poor diet and insulin resistance – impact mental health. Insulin plays a crucial role not only in physical health but also in brain function. This could be why insulin resistance may impair the brain’s ability to efficiently use glucose, contributing to cognitive and mental health problems.
Research indicates that mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder may be linked to this metabolic dysfunction. Traditional treatments for mental illness focus on balancing brain chemicals, but new studies suggest that the real problem might be how the brain processes energy.
For example, a study at Stanford University is looking into how a low-carb, ketogenic diet might help people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, with early results showing promise.
Smith said this approach challenges the long-held belief that mental health disorders are purely chemical or genetic. Instead, some researchers like Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Christopher Palmer argue that mental disorders could be understood as metabolic disorders of the brain. Treatments aimed at improving metabolic health, such as dietary changes, could potentially lead to better outcomes for patients.
Support for this research is growing as noted by Smith, with organizations like the Baszucki Foundation funding clinical trials to explore ketogenic therapy for serious mental health conditions. Studies in Australia and Switzerland are currently examining how dietary interventions may help treat depression and bipolar disorder.
As research continues, experts believe that addressing metabolic dysfunction could offer a new avenue for treating mental health disorders, providing an alternative or complement to pharmaceutical solutions.
