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Written By: Agencies | Updated : April 23, 2014 4:39 PM IST
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center has identified a major mechanism by which ghrelin (a hormone with natural anti-depressant properties) works inside the brain. Simultaneously, the researchers identified a potentially powerful new treatment for depression in the form of a neuroprotective drug known as P7C3. Dr Jeffrey Zigman, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at UT Southwestern, and co-senior author of the study, said by investigating the way the so-called 'hunger hormone' ghrelin works to limit the extent of depression following long-term exposure to stress, they discovered what could become a brand new class of anti-depressant drugs.
The current findings identify ghrelin's ability to stimulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis, the formation of new neurons, in animal models. In addition, Dr Zigman and his colleagues also found that the regenerative process inside the hippocampus - a region of the brain that regulates mood, memory, and complex eating behaviors - is crucial in limiting the severity of depression following prolonged exposure to stress. Dr Zigman said after identifying the mechanism of ghrelin's anti-depressant actions, we investigated whether increasing this ghrelin effect by directly enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis with the recently reported P7C3 class of neuroprotective compounds would result in even greater anti-depressant behavioral effects. (Read: Anti-depressant drug also stimulates formation of new brain cells)
Dr Andrew Pieper, a former UT Southwestern faculty member and co-senior author of the current study, said they found that P7C3 exerted a potent anti-depressant effect via its neurogenesis-promoting properties. Also exciting, a highly active P7C3 analog was able to quickly enhance neurogenesis to a much greater level than a wide spectrum of currently marketed anti-depressant drugs. (Read: Anti-depressants could help in stroke recovery)
The study has been published online in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
What is depression?
The term depression is used to describe a long period of sadness. It can either refer to a person's mood where he or she is feeling sad and dejected or to describe a debilitating mental illness called major depressive disorder. To feel sad during major life crises is normal but major depressive disorder refers to a condition where there is prolonged sadness without any link to life events. It's important to remember that major depressive disorder is an illness and needs to be treated just like other ailments. Depression can affect a person emotionally as well as physically. Common symptoms of depression include unhappiness, loss of interest in activities which were earlier pleasurable, loss of appetite, lack of energy and motivation, difficulty in concentrating, inability to make decisions and sleep problems (mainly insomnia). Chronic, untreated depression can induce suicidal thoughts in people. But it can be treated well with antidepressant drugs if people accept their problem and consider taking treatment. In this section, you'll find articles on common triggers of depression like lack of sleep, hearing loss, migraine and obesity. (Read: Depression understanding it is half the battle won)
With inputs from ANI
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