Brain Protein Influences Stress Management, Suggests New Depression Treatment

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a correlation between protein deficiencies in depression sufferers, which could lay the groundwork for new methods of treating the condition. The study, published in the November 2014 issue of Nature, utilized a combination of mouse studies and human autopsies to measure the beta-catenin protein in those being treated for depression. The beta-catenin protein regulates nerve cells within the brain’s reward and motivation center and contributes to resiliency towards stress. Results of the study reveal that this protein was found to be deficient in participants regardless of the methods used to treat their depression. “While most prior efforts in antidepressant drug discovery have focused on ways to undo the bad effects of stress, our findings provide a pathway to generate novel antidepressants that instead activate mechanisms of natural resilience,” said the lead researcher of the study. This newfound connection between beta-catenin and stress tolerance redefines modern understanding of depression, and suggests that future therapy techniques could proactively alleviate stress damage rather than treating the resulting symptoms. To read more about this study, click here.