The latest research has discovered another side effect of Overthinking, that it leads to a shorter life while depleting a very essential protein from the brain.
One of our gruesome habits is to think continuously. There is an insidious quirk to our brains, which doesn’t let us stop thinking. We even think of ways of not thinking continuously. From the several side effects of overthinking, the studies have discovered another novel and fatal effect, stating that overthinking leads to a shorter life.
A study conducted at Harvard Medical School discovered that excessive brain activity could lead to a shorter life. A sample of people ranging in age from the 60s and 70s was used by researchers. They compared their brains to those who lived 100 years or more.
The results revealed that those who died at a younger age had significantly lower levels of a protein called REST (RE-1 Silencing Transcription). REST quietens brain activity. As excessive thinking causes excessive brain activity, it leads to a depletion in the protein REST. As earlier mentioned – another side effect of overthinking.
REST has also been studied independently and results showcased that it can protect a person against Alzheimer’s.
Speaking to the ‘The Washington Post’ – Cynthia Kenyon, vice president of aging research at Calico Labs who commended the study’s findings. Cynthia said, “I think this is overactivity, out-of-control excitation — it’s not good for the brain”. She further added that – “You want the neurons to be active, when and where you want them to be active, not to be just generally firing off”. These are all side effects of overthinking.
