Connecting depression and brain cells.
Did you know that the brain can in fact grow new brain cells? New research shows that humans continue to develop new brain cells throughout their life in a process called neurogenesis. This discovery debunks the myth that humans have a finite number of brain cells.
Scientists also discovered that the brain’s ability to grow new brain cells may have an impact on depression, and it may be possible to treat depression by stimulating neurogenesis in the specific area of the brain that is linked to depression.
Suicide Prevention And Antidepressants.
[...]In numerous short-term randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of antidepressants for depression in children and adolescents (<19 years), antidepressants are found to be associated with a slightly higher proportion (0.7%) of patients reporting suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt than control patients receiving placebo (Bridge et al., 2007). It is important to note that there are no completed suicides in these studies. Adults treated with SSRI antidepressants in randomized clinical trials have a similar risk of either non-fatal self harm or suicidal thoughts than those on placebo (Gunnell et al., 2005 & 2006). It is undisputable that at least among children and adolescents, antidepressants have some potential of causing harm to a small subgroup of vulnerable patients, at least in the beginning of treatment. However, there are several reasons why such trials are likely to create a distorted view of the total balance of benefits and harms of antidepressants:[...]
Currently, the most common treatments for depression are drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. SSRI’s stimulate a chemical in the brain called serotonin which may cause many unpleasant side effects and many patients continue to have symptoms of depression when taking these drugs.
A company called BrainCells Inc. is currently studying an investigational new way to treat depression called BCI-540. It is the first drug ever studied for its ability to stimulate neurogenesis in the area of the brain associated with depression.
“We have shown that BCI-540 directly impacts neurogenesis without affecting serotonin levels in the brain,” said Carrolee Barlow, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer at BrainCells, Inc. “This may provide patients with advantages over currently available medications.”
Dr. Barlow believes that studying the link between neurogenesis and depression may yield a new way to treat people who suffer from depression. Recently, BrainCells announced that it is conducting a clinical trial of BCI-540 throughout Canada.
Antidepressants Tied to Gastrointestinal Bleeding.
[...]It found that 5.3 percent of the people with such bleeding were taking SSRIs, while 3.0 percent of the people who did not have such bleeding were taking SSRIs. In addition, 1.1 percent of the people who were had bleeding were taking Effexor, compared to 0.3 percent of those who did not have bleeding.
The risk was even higher in people taking SSRIs and other drugs harmful to the GI tract such as pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.[...]
According to Health Canada and Statistics Canada, approximately eight percent of adult Canadians will experience a major depression at some point in their lives, and around five percent will experience depression in a given year. Depression continues to be Canada’s fastest-rising diagnosis.
Common symptoms of depression include feeling worthless, helpless or hopeless, sleeping more or less than usual, eating more or less than usual, overwhelming feelings of sadness or grief and loss of energy. If you or a loved one is being treated for depression or you think you may be suffering from depression.
Source: NewsCanada.
Leave a Reply