Scientists Shed Light on the True Cause of Depression
A new theory of depression: the cause is not a serotonin imbalance, but an inflammatory response of the brain's glial cells to chronic stress and cortisol.
A new theory of depression: the cause is not a serotonin imbalance, but an inflammatory response of the brain's glial cells to chronic stress and cortisol.
The idea that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain (low serotonin levels) was very popular at the end of the last century. However, scientists were unable to put it to effective use. Recently, a new view has emerged: depression is caused by the immune system. Chronic stress leads to dysregulation of hormones. This in turn leads to depression and other inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, lupus, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.
Dr. Diane McIntosh of the University of British Columbia states: "It all comes down to the brain's glial cells. They support neurons, protect the brain from infections, and remove various 'debris' such as dead neurons. Depression can trigger a chronic rise in the stress hormone cortisol. When there is an excess of cortisol, glial cells stop functioning properly.
Instead, they begin to release pro-inflammatory compounds called cytokines. These damage the glial cells, which causes them to release even more cytokines. This launches a cascade of inflammatory reactions. By the way, exercise can lower cortisol levels and increase the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein important for neurogenesis."
Book a visit — we will pick a convenient time.