New Drug Offers Hope for Depression

Researchers have identified ANA-12, to have potential behavioral effects when administered to mice. Researchers hope that this new molecule will have antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans.

An estimated 19 million Americans suffer from depression, and though the symptoms might be recognizable, the brain chemistry that underlies them is incompletely understood. Research suggests that aberrant signaling by a chemical called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) through its receptor TrkB, may contribute to anxiety and depression, and inhibiting this pathway in mice can reduce anxiety and depression-related behaviors. However, translating these findings to clinical studies will require the development of small molecule inhibitors of the BDNF/TrkB pathway that could be used pharmacologically.

Anxiety Disorder - Types - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Anxiety disorder involves excessive worry about actual circumstances, events or conflicts. Anyone can develop this disorder. Genes may play a role.

In this paper, researchers led by Maxime Cazorla, of Columbia University in New York, and Didier Rognan, of the Universit de Strasbourg in France, describe a screen for stable small molecules that could specifically inhibit TrkB action. The researchers are hopeful that this new compound could be used to develop a new class of psychiatric drugs.

Source-Eurekalert

Quiz on Depression
The World Health Organization reports that depression is one of the main causes of disability affecting about 121 million people worldwide. More tragically, it claims around 850,000 lives every year. Hence, it is important that we understand this affliction to help ourselves or our loved ones to cope and, hopefully, resolve it. How well do you know the facts about depression? Take this quiz and find out.

How to Handle Depression
Few tips that could help you to manage depression. It is ok to be moody once in a while but if you feel moody for a longer period of time then it could be depression.

Antidepressants Significantly Improve Physical Recovery In Stroke Patients
Stroke patients treated with a short course of antidepressants shows significantly greater improvement in physical recovery than those treated with a placebo.