What if depression was linked to a downturn in cellular metabolism? Researchers from Lausanne have published a paper indicating there could be some truth to the idea.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/dos
Stress can lead to depression, and stress depletes the brain’s energy reserves: could it be possible that there is a link between these two phenomena?
Scientists from the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) investigated this by conducting experiments on mice, and found that, indeed, re-stimulating metabolism in the brains of depressed subjects helped combat the disorder.
First, they exposed groups of mice to stressful conditions (through constraining them) then measured for depressive symptoms, using tests of sociability and decision-making capabilities.
Mice who had received a supplement containing acetyl-L-carnitine, a substance that boosts cellular metabolism, showed reduced symptoms of depression.
Acetyl-L-carnitine, which is produced naturally in our bodies and which can also be bought as a supplement, stimulates metabolism in a specific area of the brain associated with reward, effort, and motivation systems, the researchers wrote.
Interesting, “high-ranking” mice – i.e. those with a more powerful role in the group hierarchy – were the only ones to show depressive symptoms during the test.
“High-rank mice are accustomed to being in control of a situation. But under our stress protocol – where they were physically constrained – they found themselves completely powerless,” said Carmen Sandi of EPFL in a press releaseExternal link.
As for human depression, another recent study showed that depressed patients had very low blood levels of acetyl-L-carnitine. Sandi says that giving an energy boost to the brain in times of high stress could help stagve depression.
The recent research was published in the eLife scienceExternal link journal; human studies still need to be done.
More than half a million animals were used for testing in Switzerland in 2018, about 5% fewer than the previous year. Mice account for 90% of the test animals; rats, rabbits, fish, dogs, cats and primates are also used.
More
More
How well are Swiss animals protected?
This content was published on
Strict welfare legislation makes Switzerland one of the better places to have fur, fins or feathers. Here’s why.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Prevention and tech could help save billions on Swiss healthcare costs, says Deloitte
This content was published on
By focusing on prevention and technology, it would be possible to reduce Switzerland's healthcare bill by CHF30 billion a year by 2040, according to Deloitte Switzerland.
Environment director warns of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland
This content was published on
The director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) has warned of increasing climate-related risks in Switzerland in an interview with SonntagsBlick on Sunday.
Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season
This content was published on
The start of the summer holidays saw a long traffic jam in front of the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday. Traffic jams between Erstfeld and Göschenen in canton Uri were up to 11 kilometres long early in the morning.
This content was published on
The water temperature of the Rhine River could rise by up to 4.2° degrees Celsius by the end of the century due to the warming planet, scientists warn.
This content was published on
The Federal Council wants to explore the possibilities of joining the European Union’s €800-billion rearmament programme without compromising Swiss neutrality.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Why burnout is such a controversial issue in Switzerland
This content was published on
Burnout is still poorly understood, despite a new classification by world health authorities. How is Switzerland coming to terms with the syndrome?
Anti-depressants can increase suicide risk, study finds
This content was published on
Swiss-Austrian research has found that the risk of suicide in patients suffering from depression can rise after starting a course of medication.
Magic mushrooms and meditation can alleviate depression
This content was published on
Meditation can enhance the positive long-term effects of a single dose of psilocybin, which is found in certain mushrooms.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.