Depression is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Physical exercise can improve symptoms in many people with depression, but the mechanisms by which it does so have not been characterized. Physical endurance exercise induces PGC-1α1 in skeletal muscle, promoting mitochondrial biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, angiogenesis and resistance to muscle atrophy. By studyingContinueContinue reading “Strong muscles, strong mind”
Tag Archives: depression
In working horses, a behavioral model of depression?
A key challenge in research on depression and other mood-related disorders is the availability of appropriate animal models. In addition to the difficulties inherent in assessing mood in animals, the fact that most studies are done in a controlled environment rather than a natural environment may confound interpretation of the results. Hence, some researchers haveContinueContinue reading “In working horses, a behavioral model of depression?”
New cytokine, new role in colitis
The cytokines are a large, varied group of signaling molecules involved in development, immune responses and cellular communication. Dysregulation of cytokines has been implicated in depression, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In IBD, cytokines activate the immune system, causing chronic intestinal inflammation (colitis). But recent research led by Charles A. DinarelloContinueContinue reading “New cytokine, new role in colitis”
Feel better faster with ketamine
Several small clinical trials have shown that low doses of ketamine, an anesthetic drug, can act rapidly as an antidepressant. The quickness of its action meant that ketamine, or compounds that share its mechanism of action, could be a much-needed alternative to current antidepressant therapies, many of which require several weeks to take effect. Fast-actingContinueContinue reading “Feel better faster with ketamine”
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