Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) conducted a large-scale study to understand the relationship between depression and body temperature. As part of the study, the body temperatures of 20,880 participants were monitored over seven months, and this data was analyzed.
The findings revealed that individuals diagnosed with depression had higher average body temperatures. However, this does not mean that higher body temperature directly causes depression or that depression increases body temperature. The findings only indicate a correlation between these two variables.
Scientists Explore the Cause of the Connection
Researchers continue their work to understand the reasons behind the relationship between depression and body temperature. Possible causes include the possibility that depression may alter energy usage, the body’s inability to cool itself properly, mental stress, or the effect of inflammation.
Another notable finding of this study is that practices such as hot yoga, hot baths, or sauna may alleviate depression symptoms. It is suggested that these practices can create positive effects by balancing body heat through sweating.
Dr. Ashley Mason from UCSF stated, “With the rise in depression rates, developing new treatment methods is exciting. Perhaps heat treatments applied at the right time can alleviate the effects of depression,” she noted. The results of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
