Key to antidepressant response uncovered
Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 14:30
in Health & Medicine
Through a series of investigations in mice and humans, researchers have identified a protein that appears to be the target of both antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy. Results of their experiments explain how these therapies likely work to relieve depression by stimulating stem cells in the brain to grow and mature. In addition, the researchers say, these experiments raise the possibility of predicting individual people’s response to depression therapy, and fine-tuning treatment accordingly.