Posted by SLS on June 28, 2004, at 16:45:25
In reply to re:The reason many of us are treatment resistant, posted by linkadge on June 28, 2004, at 13:43:40
> So in reality, neurogenesis is the final target for effective antidepressants.I'm not so sure about that. It may not be so much a target as it is a consequence of rectifying dysfunctions (targets) somewhere else upstream. I wouldn't think that there would be sufficient neurogenesis taking place within the two weeks it takes for many people to feel better to account for such a robust treatment response so early. I am just guessing, of course. Much of the machinery of the synapse operates with a periodicity of two weeks (receptor sensitivity, receptor turnover, second messenger modulated gene transcripton, etc.), making these sites more attractive candidates for facilitating the therapeutic response in my opinion. (I reserve the right to change my opinion at any time). ;-)
Analogy: skeletal muscleA muscle that has atrophied as the result of disuse will not exhibit hypertrophy until it is used again. Its use is dependant upon the health and activity of the innervating nerves upstream. If you sever the nerves, the muscle shrinks. Only after the nerves are repaired does the muscle grow again. The targets are therefore the dysfunctional nerves, not the muscle. Furthermore, like the hippocampus, muscle tissue is weakened further by the catabolism produced by exposure to excessive amounts of cortisol.
I tend to think that the shrinking of the hippocampus is the consequence of depression and that its rejuvination is the consequence of recovery.
Where can I find more information on this?
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:361288
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040627/msgs/361411.html