Ray of hope: In a breakthrough, gene that may help reverse depression identified
The gene that has been identified in male mice is called the SIRT1 gene.
By PTI |
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WASHINGTON D.C. [USA]: Scientists have identified a gene that may be activated to reverse symptoms of major depression such as social isolation and loss of interest.
The team found that making the SIRT1 gene inactive in excitatory neurons in male mice created symptoms of depression.
According to the study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, a drug that activated SIRT1, reversed the symptoms.
"It has an antidepressant-like effect," said Xin-Yun Lu, a professor at Augusta University in the US.
That means drugs that activate SIRT1 and enable the usual high level of activity of these excitatory neurons might one day be an effective therapy for some with major depression, said Lu.
Make Notes, Eat Healthy & Exercise Daily: 7 Ways To Fight Depression
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Stress and frustration can lead to depression, further affecting mental health.
While it is imperative to consult with a medical professional if symptoms of depression are noticed, certain modification in one's lifestyle can help in combatting mild depression. However, moderate to severe depression requires the treatment with medications.
Nevertheless lifestyle changes do help in recovering as well as preventing the condition and future episodes.
Dr Pallavi Aravind Joshi, Consultant Psychiatrist of Columbia Asia Hospital Whitefield (Bengaluru) shares 7 tips to combat depression.
Stress and frustration can lead to depression, further affecting mental health.
While it is imperative to consult with a medical professional if symptoms of depression are noticed, certain modifica..
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Go for a walk every day, jog, or swim. You can also join a Zumba class. Indulge in yoga or aerobics. Apart from keeping you fit and occupied, exercising can also boost mental health and infuse positivity in life by releasing feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. Exercise also channels out negative energy.
Go for a walk every day, jog, or swim. You can also join a Zumba class. Indulge in yoga or aerobics. Apart from keeping you fit and occupied, exercising can also boost mental health and infuse posit..
Read More
Eating healthy not only helps you maintain your physical health, but also aids in your mental well-being. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, poultry, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods and fish in your diet. Also do not forget to drink a lot of water.
Eating healthy not only helps you maintain your physical health, but also aids in your mental well-being. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, poultry, whole grains, low-fat dairy fo..
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It is imperative to maintain a work-life balance. Try to reassess your schedule and not to bring the office work home. Design your own ways to combat work related anxiety.
It is imperative to maintain a work-life balance. Try to reassess your schedule and not to bring the office work home. Design your own ways to combat work related anxiety.
Though the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine may act as instant mood enhancer, in long term, they serve only to worsen your mental health. So try to reduce your weekly consumption.
Though the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine may act as instant mood enhancer, in long term, they serve only to worsen your mental health. So try to reduce your weekly consumption.
Depression can cause distraction, and make you forget things and thus can result in creating confusion and thereby affecting self-esteem. A great way to deal with this is keeping reminders on your phone, or jotting down key points on sticky notes.
Depression can cause distraction, and make you forget things and thus can result in creating confusion and thereby affecting self-esteem. A great way to deal with this is keeping reminders on your p..
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Do not let your work stress keep you away from your family and friends. Spend time with your family. Meet your friends, go out for movies, make plans get together. Even a short phone call or text exchanges could work like magic on a stressful day.
Do not let your work stress keep you away from your family and friends. Spend time with your family. Meet your friends, go out for movies, make plans get together. Even a short phone call or text ex..
Read More
Remember it is okay to be not okay, but it is never okay to give up on yourself. Get up, dress smartly and go out in the world. Pamper yourself a little more. Make a list of the things which make you cheerful and do at least one thing every day.
Remember it is okay to be not okay, but it is never okay to give up on yourself. Get up, dress smartly and go out in the world. Pamper yourself a little more. Make a list of the things which make yo..
The firing of excitatory neurons is definitely decreased in depression, and neurons are not communicating as they should. Problems like manic behaviour and seizures, on the other hand, indicate excessive firing.
It is hard to get excited without energy, and another of SIRT1's known roles in brain cells is regulating cell powerhouses, called mitochondria.
The scientists found that at least part of the way knocking out SIRT1 in males impacted the excitability of these normally excited neurons was by reducing the number of cell powerhouses and the expression of genes involved in powerhouse production.
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The depressed behaviours they saw as a result are another indicator of SIRT1's importance in that region to mood regulation and how without it, there is insufficient excitation of neurons.
However, there was a lack of impact in female mice, even though the SIRT1 variant was first identified in a large gene study of depressed women, researchers said.
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They suspect physical differences in this front region of the brain, like differences in the numbers of neurons and synapses between males and females, could help explain the sex differences they found.
The team is already working on similar sex disparities in the hippocampus, another brain region important in depression as well as other conditions like Alzheimer's.
