Web address:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/
070628162055.htm
Exercise Stimulates The Formation Of New Brain Cells
ScienceDaily (June 29, 2007) Exercise has a similar effect to antidepressants
on depression. This has been shown by previous research. Now Astrid Bjørnebekk
at Karolinska Institutet has explained how this can happen: exercise stimulates
the production of new brain cells.
In a series of scientific reports, she has searched for the underlying
biological mechanisms that explain why exercise can be a form of therapy for
depression and has also compared it with pharmacological treatment with an SSRI
drug.
The experiment studies were conducted on rats. The results show that both
exercise and antidepressants increase the formation of new cells in an area of
the brain that is important to memory and learning. Astrid Bjørnebekk's studies
confirm previous research results, and she proposes a model to explain how
exercise can have an antidepressant effect in mild to moderately severe
depression. Her study also shows that exercise is a very good complement to
medicines.
"What is interesting is that the effect of antidepressant therapy can be
greatly strengthened by external environmental factors," she says.
Previous studies have shown that drug abusers have lowered levels of the
dopamine D2 receptor in the brain's reward system. It has been speculated that
this may be of significance to the depressive symptoms drug abusers often
suffer from. These rat studies show that genetic factors may influence how
external environmental factors can regulate levels of the dopamine D2 receptor
in the brain.
"Different individuals may have differing sensitivity to how stress lowers
dopamine D2 receptor levels, for example. This might be significant in
explaining why certain individuals develop depression more readily than
others," she says.
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The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily
staff) from materials provided by Karolinska Institutet, via EurekAlert!, a
service of AAAS.
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Karolinska Institutet (2007, June 29). Exercise Stimulates The Formation Of New
Brain Cells. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 3, 2011, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2007/06/070628162055.htm
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis
or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of
ScienceDaily or its staff.
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