Astrocytes Identified as Depression Therapy

23rd Jan 2013, Tufts University’s neuroscience researchers, found that the Astrocytes, that is the star shape brain cell, can be helpful to improve the mood in patients who were depressed due to sleep deprivation. It was identified in vivo study that how this astrocytes controls a Neuro- Transmitter related to sleep. The researchers say that this finding can help in developing drug which is fast and effective to cure depression, especially in emergencies.

The drugs that are used to fight depression take weeks to show their effect. But sleep deprivation has proved in 60 percent patients immediately effective in most of depression disorders. However it is not long lasting and uncomfortable for patients.

The research was verified in 1970, that the sleep deprivation is effective against depression. Rapid eye sleep movement deprivation mainly. However the brain mechanism was that was underlying was not known.
We have known more about brains because of neurons, but glia is another cell which is ignored. Glia is thought historically as neurons support cell. Phil Haydon group, Tufts University School of Medicine, showed that Astrocytes, a type of Glia in animal model, affects the behavior.

Haydon group has previously found that astrocytes controls sleep deprivation response by the release of neutral-transmitters which controls the neurons. The sleep wake cycle is affected by this neuron regulation activity. Adenosine receptors in neurons are the one specifically acted. Adenosine is sleep inducing chemical.
The time that we are awake, Adenosine gets accumulated and the urge to sleep increases, this called as sleep pressure. Adenosine receptor antagonists are chemicals like caffeine and they keep us awake. But on the contrary adenosine receptor agonist will make you sleepy.

Dustin Hines, First author, Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow, department of neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine said that, in the study we gave 3 doses of adenosine receptor agonist was given to the mice in a night which was sleep deprivation equivalent. The mice were sleeping normally but the adenosine levels were not reduced sufficiently because of the sleep, this mimicked the sleep deprivation effect.  Just after 12 hours they found that the depressive symptoms were decreased in the mice and adenosine was increased in the brain, this was maintained for 48 hours.

By controlling the astrocytes we could mimic the sleep deprivation effects on symptoms like depression, which can give an improved behavior faster and longer time.

For developing and researching an anti-depressant drug, to understand the astrocytic signal and adenosine role, is vital. The drugs based on this research help can provide fast relief in psychiatric emergency and chronic depression symptoms elevated for longer span, as quoted by Naomi Rosenberg, Ph.D., Dean and Vice Dean for, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine respectively. The next course of action of the team would be to check if there are any other receptors and that too can affect.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Treating Depression

Psychiatrist usually recommends not taking mental disorders lightly. Disorders such as depression should be treated or it may result in severe form.

Depression can ruin one’s life as depressed person cannot concentrate on work or study, feel sorrow, worried without valid reason to worry and no lost interest in activities.

Severe or chronic depression is something one cannot get rid of easily. Depression is like diabetes, patient just can’t drop sugar level by just following steps given in book. Depression requires proper drug treatment along with psychotherapy.

Dr James Barbee, a psychiatrist in New Orleans, is using new method to treat depression. The method is called TMS ot Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

In this therapy, magnetostatic fields of particular intensity or frequency are aimed at prefrontal cortex for 37mins. Prefrontal cortex is part of brain located on left hand side. Dysfunction of that area of brain causes depression, proven in research study. Targeting this area of brain brings changes mood.

This new therapy is proof that depression is not problem of personality, but, is a dysfunction of part of the brain.

Brain image taken after the therapy showed remarkable changes in brain. The part of brain, which regulates concentration; decision and emotions, reported to be more active than before the therapy.

Barbee says at times he’ll ask patients if they’re feeling any better, and they don’t notice a difference.
Relatives found patient jollier and more expressive. Dr Barbee has said he would periodically ask patients whether they feel better and signs of improvement.

Dr Barbee, keeping outcome of therapy in mind, compares new treatment to powerful anti depressant drug, Prozac. depression drugs

Half of the total number of patients who received this therapy from Dr Barbee have experinced significant improvement.

Blood Pressure Drugs Reduce PTSD Symptoms

Some blood pressure medicines have been found helpful in treating stress post trauma, says a research study.

PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were reduced when patients took medicines such as cozaar or diovan. Drugs of class Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blockers prevent action of receptors of angiotensin 2 enzyme.

The research outcome is significant one because it paves the way for new path to proceed on to develop treatment for PTSD. This is the first study that has linked blood pressure drug to psychological disorder such as PTSD. Dr Kerry Ressler is the author of the study. Dr Ressler is professor at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, psychiatry department.

Experts caution the result did not demonstrate cause of the effect, rather just establishes link. Also, a clinical trial would require to compare efficacy against placebo. The study has been published on reputed journal, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

check the study details here http://www.psychiatrist.com/ppp/login/login_check_1.asp?dest=/privatepdf/2006/v67n08/v67n0810.pdf

5,000 patients participated in study. All the patients had had severe PTSD symptoms because of traumatic incident such as sexual abuse, physical abuse or experiencing violent incidents, when the study was conducted.

500 out 5000 people were subject to one incident that left them traumatized. 180 people met conditions to be diagnosed with PTSD. 26 patients were already taking blood pressure drugs of either class ARB or ACE inhibitors.

Symptoms of PTSD are characterized by behavioral pattern such as avoidance, hyperarousal and intrusive thoughts. Occurrence of these symptoms was recorded to calculate score for PTSD symptom. Higher score indicate higher severity.

The score found reduced by 30% in patients who are on Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers or ACE inhibitors. To be specific, ACE inhibitors and ARB drugs lowered intrusive thoughts and hyperarousal. No change in score was reported for those who were taking other types of antihypertensive drugs.

Electroshock To Treat Depression Found Effective in Study

Experts demonstrated with the help of a study that electroshock therapy is so far effective and underestimated therapy for depression.

Brain images (MRI) of 9 adults who were suffering from chronic depression were examined by scientists. Scientists learned that that electroconvulsive therapy affected several connections between the parts of the brain in depressive people.

The study has confirmed presence of hyperconnectivity in brain of depressed people. And MRI scan showed that the hyperconnectivity can be eliminated by electroshock therapy. The study was conducted at University of Aberdeen in Scotland by Dr Christian Schwarzbauer and team.

It is widely believed that activities in brain of depression patient are too high to respond stimulation given from outside. But this therapy and its result has proved that even a overdriven brain can be treated from external therapy.

The study has opened the door for more improvment to increase efficacy of the treatment.

Electroshock treatment is usually preferred when patient with severe depression symptoms fails to respond antidepressants drug treatment and other available therapy.

The study has been published on Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Scan image of brain was taken for total nine patients of chronic depression. They then received therapy two times in a week. The therapy was continued till patients showed improvment such as decrease in sorrowness. Scan image of their brain was taken after therapy.

The scientists focused on prefrontal cortex. It is a part of brain located on left side. Brain images of the patients showed that the connections of prefrontal cortex with other part had become less intense after receiving shock therapy.

Studies in past has indicated link between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and depression. That part of the brain is associated with emotions such as anger, mood such as sadness. Electroshock therapy stopped communication between prefrontal cortex and other part which studies showed association with depression.

Try This Unusual Method to Reduce Depression

It is time in your life, if you believe your sorrow and pain, perhaps the death of loved ones, or falling apart,and relationship.I know how it feels to be depressed. Pregnancy in the chest and weakness of life, numbness, feeling cut off and the feeling of hopelessness.
Many people start taking antidepressants when they feel being depressed. Let me tell you antidepressants help you for short period of time. There are many ways that can recede depression level. Depression badly affects various life-style aspects of life such as it leads to erectile dysfunction, hair loss.
Despair: I know it varies from person to person, as well symptoms. Depression is more than the Blues. It can be a killer, especially among young people. Many do not suffer not want to risk the side effects that some prescription drugs do. Here are some ideas to deal with depression natural and healthy manner.
Spend Time: To spend time quietly and gently ask the feelings and thoughts of what they want. Wait and see if the answer comes. I do not think some of you are depressed you need to pay attention to it. This allows you to start with heal.Get something you know you are good at. When it reaches the target Improve your self-esteem. This naturally raises You can spirits.
Meditate: Meditation helps the mind to release tension. Meditation tape can guide, how to act. Relaxation and rest is the key to making a noise mind. Keep Journal and write down the emotions, it helps you keep track of your depressive episodes. This in turn can lead you all to raise nutritional or emotional, and you can manage before they start. Eat enough fruits and vegetables, and make sure that the iron and thyroid levels are where they should be.
Nutrition: has an important role in energy level and body functioning. If something is not right in our body, it can occur mood. To pay special attention to food intake.Exercise, especially aerobic raise the level of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is useful to add mood. Many prescription drugs on the market will increase serotonin levels medication, while the use of this course.