McMaster University finds depression, living in disadvantaged neighbourhood may lead to faster aging

The study points to how depression and living in an urban environment, with greater material and social inequities, can influence how a person ages. Researchers say this may occur even after accounting for individual-level health and behavioural risk factors, such as chronic conditions and poor health behaviours. The study found a one-point increase in the depression score accelerated a person’s risk of death by one month, while greater neighbourhood deprivation increased a person’s risk of death by almost one year.