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Neurogenesis and Depression

Given that the majority of women in my extended family seem to suffer from some kind of depressive disorder to a greater or lesser extent, I've always been interested in the research going on in that area. It has always seemed a little astonishing that although there have been drugs to treat depression for a relatively long time, 20 years, there isn't a good understanding of how they work, why they work, what they are really doing. Yes Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI, which means that it increases the amount of serotonin in your brain available to post-synaptic cells by reducing its absorption by pre-synaptic cells. And that seems to be a good thing, but exactly why it is a good thing still isn't firmly established. SSRI's change your brain chemistry soup in a matter of hours, but it takes weeks for this to translate into an easing of depression.

Anyway, I just read an article that talks about how the theory that SSRI's work by increasing neurogenesis has made a little more progress. I've heard the theory before, and it is interesting to see that the research behind it is progressing bit by bit. Also some counter arguements about the length of time that it takes neurons to mature in humans vs mice. Brains are neat. "New life inside the depressed brain: Neuron growth may be key to mood disorder treatments, studies find"


( 4 comments — Leave a comment )
Nov. 21st, 2007 02:18 pm (UTC)
That's quite intersesting. And it's pretty well in line with what I've observed anecdotally - learning new things, stretching the mind, is a great cure for depression.
Nov. 21st, 2007 03:42 pm (UTC)
Not just learning new things in the classic self improvement sense either, but all kinds of learning new things from the brains point of view, including visiting new places, and talking to people (which adds more reward mechanisms). I wonder if part of the reason exercise is an effective treatment is the growth of new muscles and body knowledge? I'm sure it also is good for your brain from an active metabolism sort of way, but it is interesting to think of it in the same framework.
Nov. 24th, 2007 12:49 am (UTC)
Prozac didn't work for me. It took forever to get the right combination of meds! :( I felt like a lab rat.
Nov. 25th, 2007 11:10 pm (UTC)
I felt a little that way trying to find birth control pills that didn't mess me up. But I had the option to just quit if I wanted.
( 4 comments — Leave a comment )