February 05, 2008
Seed: The Reinvention of the Self is a fascinating article detailing that it may not be the serotonin produced by antidepressants that fights depression, but rather it’s the antidepressants creation of trophic factors that stimulates new neuron development that counters depression:
But if missing serotonin isn’t the underlying cause of depression, then how do antidepressants work? As millions will attest, Prozac does do something. Duman’s insight, which he began to test gradually, was that a range of antidepressants trigger a molecular pathway that has little, if anything, to do with serotonin. Instead, this chemical cascade leads to an increase in the production of a class of proteins known as trophic factors. Trophic factors make neurons grow. What water and sun do for trees, trophic factors do for brain cells. Depression was like an extended drought: It deprived neurons of the sustenance they need.
Thanks to William for the awesome link.