Depression Muddling The Mind

Scientists are studying depression in models to try and identify on a molecular level just how the condition can affect thinking. Findings of this study could help lead to the development of new treatments for depression that could address associated cognitive problems, as published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

It is conservatively estimated by the World Health Organization that upwards of 350 million people of all ages and gender worldwide suffer from depression, and a great deal go undiagnosed. Symptoms of depression are varied that can characterize this condition are cognitive dysfunctions such as difficulty remembering details, making decisions, and in concentrating. Symptoms tend to linger on after other symptoms tend to fade which can seriously limit an individual’s ability to focus on study or work.

To determine how depression may affect the brain on a molecular level researchers set out to investigate using rats modeled for depression for analysis. Certain proteins were found to be expressed in higher amounts by the researchers in a control group of rodents in response to a standard cognitive novel object recognition tests than there was in rodents with symptoms that were characteristic of that of human depression.

Other previously conducted studies have suggested that these proteins which include Bmal1 and oligophrenin-1 may play important roles in cognitive processes. Researchers say that their findings support those findings and could help to inform future investigations for use in development of therapies and interventions to be used in the treatment for major depression and stress related disorders.