Posts Tagged ‘Antidepressants’

Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry in Munich have compared the genomes of a total of 4088 patients and 11 001 healthy control subjects from around the world, and identified a new Risikogenvariante for depression. For the first time it was shown that even healthy carriers of these Risikogenvariante measurable physiological changes in the brain. Cause a transport protein is involved, which is involved in the production of an important neuronal messenger. Great hope and share the researchers in this factor as a target for future anti-depressants, since conventional drugs interact with similar transport molecules.

For years, scientists worldwide to find the genetic causes of depression. That this can be a thrilling detective work, report Martin Kohli, Susan Lucae, Bertram Müller-Myhsok and Elisabeth Binder in the actual work. They compared the DNA of depressed patients with healthy subjects. In a specific region on chromosome 12, the researchers found the right one: You met with single base substitutions, called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that occurred uniquely associated with depression disorders. The disappointment was not large, as the researchers had to determine that this section contains no genes on the chromosome. “Instead of a” depression gene “to get hold of, we found ourselves almost in a” genetic desert again, “said Florian Holsboer, director of the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry in Munich.

The scientists, therefore, the question of whether a distant gene could possibly be influenced by genetic variation and thus creates a susceptibility to depression. More promising candidate for such a relationship: the gene SLC6A15. It carries the blueprint for a protein, transport the amino acids such as proline and leucine in the contact points of nerve cells in the brain, called synapses, and thus may be involved in the regulation of an important neurotransmitter in nerve cells, the glutamate. Because leucine is a structural precursor of this neurotransmitter. “As we start to depression of a disturbed communication of nerve cell clusters, we considered whether the identified gene may have of us glutamate influences on it,” says Elisabeth Binder, group leader at the Max-Planck-Institut.

In fact, the Max Planck scientists to prove that have influenced the changes in the DNA sequence of all 287 000 bases away from the gene’s activity: It varied in the brain samples, depending on which DNA components were replaced. Mr. Zeller indicated by a lower risk genotype gene activity as cells with protective genotype. And studies in magnetic resonance Philip Sower and colleagues confirmed then that is even healthy volunteers, the support of well risk, already small amounts of brain metabolic substances N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and glutamate (Glx) are compared to healthy subjects, the burden is not genetically are.

In the course of the disease will occur in depression and morphological changes: In depressed patients, finally, is a reduction of specific brain regions can be seen. It must therefore find the genetic predisposition, other factors act on the body to trigger the depression disorder. For years at the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry, the effects of stress as an important environmental factor in the development of depression studied. This increases the probability to fall ill two to three times if the person is exposed, for example, chronic social stress.

Of particular interest, therefore, the observation of Mathias Schmidt: The researcher observed that the SLC6A15 is activity in the brains of mice with increased susceptibility to stress much lower than in the brains of animals with high resistance to stress. Despite the fact that now the cause and what is a consequence, these data document but that it examined a direct link between the gene and are the coping. “We now want to find out how the gene converts stress in an activity-dependent cellular response and thus influence the disease process of depression,” said the young Max-Planck-group leader.

The function of this gene activity of chronic stress demonstrates impressively the combination of heredity and environment on a molecular level in the disease process. “The detailed study of these stress-related gene regulation will provide a new understanding of the development of depression,” said Florian Holsboer is safe.

The relationship of the transport protein SCL6A15 with depression triggered by the Munich scientists optimism to have come the development of new antidepressants closer. In fact, has already been shown that tricyclic antidepressants can bind to a related transporters in bacteria and block its activity in this way. The extent to which the properties of the human SLC6A15 transporter can be influenced by small molecules and thus an antidepressant effect can be produced is already the subject of a new research project at the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry.

Mental illness is not only a disease with which you were born, mental illnesses can develop over time, they act as something predestined, or as a condition that has been developed over time. While some mental illnesses are certainly not generally found in young people, such as Alzheimer’s, others such as depression can be from childhood and mental disorders such as ADHD strike, although more diagnosis, does not affect many children and adults.

Young adults may suffer from a wide range of mental disorders, and are often the first time than any other age group because their brain is developing rapidly and many new factors involved, which they are incurred during their teens and early twenties. Young adults are not necessarily particularly at risk, but they may have a mental illness are born, are more likely to break dormancy at this point in their lives.

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that often strikes young adults for the first time. Individuals may suffer from paranoia or disturbing or both by a loved one can be detected and reported to each physician. Other signs may include young adults, hearing voices or seeing things that are not there. people with schizophrenia may also experience apathy or lack of emotions and social functions could be worse. You can also begin to have trouble concentrating or following directions and completing tasks, and may suffer from their memories. Patients with schizophrenia are almost always the feeling, before their symptoms begin degenerate depressed.

Depression is another mental disorder is very common among young adults. It is characterized by a feeling of extreme helplessness, hopelessness, and is by far not the same as “the blues” or down “. Depression is a severe psychological condition that affects millions of Americans who can and can cause suicidal thoughts, as well as over-or under-eating, over-or under-sleep, and mood changes. Depression is not something that people simply “more” or “snap”, and may, indeed, a medication or treatment or a combination thereof, before the person begins to see the end of symptoms. Symptoms of depression can come and go, and are similar, but slightly different than the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness is known, can be treated with medication. It is with intense mania or “high” periods during which the individual is overly enthusiastic or optimistic, and can perform tasks or plans that are not achievable first characterized. These periods are characterized by motor and the intensive “depth” followed, which may include sleep all day, without hope, suicide attempts and other symptoms common with depression.

ADHD is a disorder as a disease, as is often not seriously affect the ability of the young adult to function normally in society, but it is possible for a young adult ADHD, their ability to engage in employment or interfere with the function have individually. This disorder often focus on the incompetence, and easily distracted, and some types of symptoms. It can be made visible to forget that almost chronic inability or store in a quiet place, and also with a hyper-focus on certain activities.

The diagnosis of mental illness should be left to doctors, but often family and friends of affected young adults, to recognize the symptoms before treatment is given to an individual. Many people with mental disorders are not aware they are suffering, or research, for various reasons related to their disease treatment on their own.

People who are affected by mental illness above the love of mental disorders and others, a list of specific symptoms they see in order to make them present these symptoms to a mental health specialist. The symptoms you should meet some specific profiles, changes in eating and sleeping, weight gain or loss, personality changes, inability to function normally, paranoia, aggression and other unusual behaviors . Even feeling that something is “off” with a beloved man deserve additional attention or even help in an investigation to assist in their mental illness.

Regardless of what the symptoms, no diagnosis, the person who suffers from a doctor is supposed to be done. One person was transported to hospital by the police should be dealt with quickly and without sufficient attention paid to release their actual needs. It belongs to the family and friends of young adults affected by mental illness, they get help.