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Scientists have developed a new method of treating depression
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
Currently, almost every tenth person on the planet suffers from this or that form of depression, so scientists are trying to develop new more effective and safe ways of treating this disorder. The employees of the Texas Medical Center succeeded, in their words, to make an opening that could become a real breakthrough in the field of medicine.
A group of researchers led by Dr. Jeffrey Sigman managed to identify a unique mechanism by which an antidepressant natural hormone affects the brain. Also, scientists noted that a neuroprotective drug was discovered that differs significantly from the currently used drugs for the treatment of depressive conditions.
The research group analyzed the hormone ghrelin in rodents (this hormone is also known as the hormone of hunger, as it provokes an increased appetite). A few years ago, scientists discovered that the properties of ghrelin are manifested with an elevated level of the hormone in the body due to a long stressful state or a low-calorie diet. The latest study of specialists has shown that the hormone to all leads to the formation of new neurons in neurogenesis in the hypocampus. A team of specialists in their study tried to establish whether it is possible to increase the antidepressant effect of this hormone with the help of the P7C3 compound discovered several years ago. In previous studies, it was found that the compound P7C3 has a neuroprotective effect against patients with Parkinson, with traumatic brain lesions and amyotrophic sclerosis. Now experts have established that this compound helps in the treatment of depressive disorders. In addition, P7C3 increases the efficiency of ghrelin, namely, its neurogenic properties, which in general have a powerful antidepressant effect. In P7C3 there is a more active analogue - P7C3-A20, which has a stimulating effect in the development of neurons more efficiently than the currently existing antidepressant drugs.
In addition, in another research project, led by Jonathan Schaffer, it was found that vitamin D, which is part of many additives, does not help with depressive and neurological disorders. Such data scientists received after several tests, which involved more than three thousand people. During the tests, scientists have proved that vitamin D does not have any therapeutic effect in the treatment of depression. Studies have shown that clinical depressive disorders did not respond to this treatment, and the reduction in symptoms of depression was almost the same as with placebo. The positive effect of taking supplements containing vitamin D was noted only in those patients who had a deficiency of this vitamin in the body.
The effectiveness of vitamin D is manifested only in combination with antidepressants. The benefits of vitamin A for depression should be studied in more detail, says Dr. Schaffer.
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