Health & Wellbeing

New finding may lead to better treatments for depression

New finding may lead to better treatments for depression
People with major depressive disorder have higher levels of the GPR158 receptor protein
People with major depressive disorder have higher levels of the GPR158 receptor protein
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People with major depressive disorder have higher levels of the GPR158 receptor protein
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People with major depressive disorder have higher levels of the GPR158 receptor protein

While traditional antidepressants may make a world of difference for some people, the fact is that they don't work for everyone. What's more, even when they do work, they typically take at least several weeks to do so. There may be new hope for individuals suffering from depression, however, thanks to a discovery made at The Scripps Research Institute.

Led by Prof. Kirill Martemyanov, the Scripps team found that a receptor protein known as GPR158 was elevated in people with major depressive disorder.

This prompted the scientists to conduct a study on lab mice, some of which had boosted GPR158 levels, and some of which had none. It was found that after being subjected to chronic stress, both male and female mice with elevated levels of the protein exhibited depressive-like behavior. The mice without GPR158, on the other hand, continued to behave normally.

The scientists subsequently discovered that GPR158 affects key signalling pathways involved in mood regulation, within the brain's prefrontal cortex. That said, the exact mechanics involved in the relationship are still not entirely understood. It could, however, explain why some people are mentally resilient to stress, while it causes depression in others.

"The next step in this process is to come up with a drug that can target this receptor," says Martemyanov.

A paper on the research was recently published in the journal eLife.

Source: The Scripps Research Institute

4 comments
4 comments
Brian M
@JamesDemello For mild depression definitely something that will help, same with exercise. The trouble is there are many cause/types of depression, rather than a single illness.
As recent studies has shown anti-depressants do work, but often they are given as a convenience (and patient pressure) rather than solving the underlying issues via cognitive therapy or other treatments.
antiguajohn98
Ketamine release depression in a few hours, it's been around for a long time now and there are places that offer it, however they charge exorbitant prices, which considering it's been off label for 70 years is questionable.
Scientia Non Domus, (Knowledge has No Home) antiguajohn
ljaques
Anti-depression Treatment: Start eating better (avoid fast food places), wean yourself off sugar (it's like acid in your body), get daily exercise which raises your heart rate (takes toxins out of your muscles), and drink lots of water (flushes toxins out of your body).
Oh, and stay away from pharmaceutical andi-depressants. Most of the mass shooters were on one of them before or during the murders. https://www.cchrint.org/2017/10/10/another-mass-shooting-another-psychiatric-drug/
One last thing: TURN OFF CNN (and other MSM news) It's all meant to depress you or put you in fear. Just Say No.