People who suffer from disrupted sleep may be more likely to develop depression and other mood disorders, scientists say. A research team at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands looked at the impact of sleep loss on the brain structure and chemical responses in rats. They found that rats which had only been allowed to sleep for four hours per night for a week showed reduced sensitivity in areas of the brain that regulate chemicals associated with mood disorders. After one month of this sleep pattern, the animals' hippocampus - the part of the brain involved in memory and cognitive function - had shrunk and were producing fewer new cells. The rats subsequently needed an entire week of unlimited sleep in order to recover. Presenting their findings at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the study authors pointed out that sleep problems have long been regarded as a consequence of depression. 'What we're showing is that in some cases, sleep problems may be causing depressive symptoms,' said Dr Peter Meerlo, from the University of Groningen. 'We may need to think about addressing sleep problems independent of the mood disturbances in patients with depression.' About one in ten people are affected by depression at some point, according to NHS figures.
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