Doctors sound alarm after discovering deadly condition can be caught by KISSING
Along with germs, kissing could spread dementia a new study suggests.
Researchers out of Iran looked at how transferring saliva between two humans could impact mental health.
Previous studies have shown that people suffering from depression and anxiety have higher cortisol levels in their spit.
The theory is that cortisol has a toxic effect on the hippocampus area of the brain, which plays an important role in memory.
In the new study, researchers looked at how kissing someone could alter the composition of the other person's spit and therefore introduce higher levels of cortisol into their systems.
To test the theory, the scientists recruited 268 newlywed couples between February and October 2024.
In each of the couples, one spouse was suffering from depression and anxiety, with the primary symptom being insomnia.
At the beginning of their marriages, each of the couples submitted swaps from their mouths and salivary samples.
They also completed questionnaires gauging their sleeping behaviors and anxiety levels.
Six months later, they completed the same tests and sent them in for analysis.
The results showed that healthy spouses 'exhibited significantly higher scores for depression, anxiety, and insomnia compared to their own baseline measurements' half a year later.
It was found that women were more impacted by this phenomena than men.
The researchers say that the findings have 'important implications' for developing treatment plans for insomnia and depression for patients in relationships, as it could involve treating both parties, even if only one partner is demonstrating symptoms.
They note that the findings also relate to previous research which shows how gut bacteria can produce chemicals that significantly impact the brain, including several microorganisms linked - positively or negatively - to mental health.
One experiment, known as the Flemish Gut Flora Project, examined depression data and stool samples from more than 1,000 people and found that two types of bacteria were 'consistently depleted' in those who suffered from depression.
This held true even if patients were on anti-depressants. Off the back of this research, scientists are now exploring the transfer of fecal matter from a healthy donor into a patient as a potential treatment for depression.
The researchers behind the recent study say that further research is needed to look at how the exchange of microorganisms in saliva between humans can effect mental health.
They note that their analysis has various limitations, including the fact that it was only limited to Persian-speaking couples based in Iran and the questionnaires didn't account for other factors that could impact mental health, such as major life events and dietary changes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
Pandemic era stressors have increased rates for depression and anxiety by upwards of 25 percent.
The National Institute of Mental Health reveals that depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the US.
The symptoms range from mild to severe and can disrupt a person's ability to carry out everyday activities.
It is linked to increased health care costs and other health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It is also a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
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