Posted by SLS on January 15, 2019, at 7:06:52
As time proceeds in the study of mental illness, one of the most interesting and potentially therapeutic findings is that inflammation occurs in the brain and is associated with with several disorders.
One of the more exciting substances being suggested as a treatment for depression (including bipolar disorder) is Acetyl-L-Carnitine. Acetyl-L-Carnitine is an amino acid normally found in the body. One of the functions of carnitine is to support mitochondrial function - the production of usable cellular energy. In people with depression, the blood levels of carnitine is very low. This might end up being used as a biomarker for diagnosis.
It seems that supplementing the diet with Acetyl-L-Carnitine can produce major improvements in depression in some people. Perhaps this is limited to those who test low for blood carnitine. I don't know, but I'm sure these associations are being studied.
It is now firmly established that there is an association between depression and inflammation of the brain. I am having a difficult time interpreting the data. Does inflammation produce depression or does depression produce inflammation? I guess it is conceivable that the depression first emerges as neurotransmission and circuitry abnormalities produced by childhood adversity and other psychosocial stressses. As the depression persists and grows, perhaps the immune system is triggered and targets the brain. One of the mediators of inflammation in the brain are microglia cells.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a potent anti-inflammatory in the brain.
http://bipolarnews.org/?p=4517
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1102789
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20181024/msgs/1102789.html