Conquering Depression
Adapted from Medicine
at Michigan
How do antidepressants work?
In 2001, Americans spent $12.5 billion
on antidepressants to treat the debilitating
symptoms of depression. Scientists know
that antidepressants work by restoring the
normal balance of hormones and neurotransmitters
in the brain. But no one knows exactly how
they do it. Robert Thompson, Ph.D., an assistant
professor of psychiatry in the Medical School,
is trying to find out.
By analyzing subtle changes in the brains
of laboratory rats receiving one of three
common antidepressants, Thompson and U-M
colleague Juan F. Lopez, M.D., have found
10 to 20 neural genes whose expression patterns
change in response to medication. They use
advanced DNA microarray technology to analyze
the activity of thousands of genes just
to find a few that change in response to
more than one type of antidepressant. It
is tedious, painstaking — but important
— work.
The next step is tracking complex biochemical
changes in the brain, which are controlled
by changes in gene expression. “Understanding
how antidepressants work at a genetic and
molecular level could help us address their
limitations, like delayed responses and
side effects,” Thompson says. “It
also could lead to new medications to help
people who
don’t respond at all to the antidepressants
we have today.”
Also:
Conquering
Depression
What’s
the best way to help depressed teens?
What
does stress do to your brain?
Can
primary care docs treat depression?
What
happens to when Mom is depressed?
View
original article...
Last updated on:
Friday, 26-Jan-2007 15:00:06 EST
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