Researchers at the MedUni Vienna have demonstrated the possibility of using a blood test to detect depression.
While blood tests for mental illnesses have until recently been regarded as impossible, a recent study clearly indicates that, in principle, depression can in fact be diagnosed in this way and this could become reality in the not too distant future.
Serotonin transporter (SERT) is a protein in the cell membrane that facilitates the transport of the neurotransmitter serotonin (popularly known as the “happiness hormone”) into the cell. In the brain, serotonin transporter regulates neural depression networks. Depressive conditions can frequently be caused by a lack of serotonin. As a result, the serotonin transporter is also the point of action for the major antidepressant drugs.
The serotonin transporter, however, also occurs in large quantities in numerous other organs such as the intestines or blood. Recent studies have shown that the serotonin transporter in the blood works in exactly the same way as in the brain. In the blood, it ensures that blood platelets maintain the appropriate concentration of serotonin in the blood plasma.
Researchers at the MedUni Vienna have now used functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and pharmacological investigations to demonstrate that there is a close relationship between the speed of the serotonin uptake in blood platelets and the function of a depression network in the brain.
This network is termed the “default mode network” because it is primarily active at rest and processes content with strong self-reference. Findings from recent years have also demonstrated that it is actively suppressed during complex thought processes, which is essential for adequate levels of concentration. Interestingly, patients with depression find it difficult to suppress this network during thought processes, leading to negative thoughts and ruminations as well as poor concentration.
“This is the first study that has been able to predict the activity of a major depression network in the brain using a blood test. While blood tests for mental illnesses have until recently been regarded as impossible, this study clearly shows that a blood test is possible in principle for diagnosing depression and could become reality in the not too distant future,” explains study leader Lukas Pezawas from the Department of Biological Psychiatry at the University Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy within the MedUni Vienna. This result means that the diagnosis of depression through blood tests could become reality in the not too distant future.
The Latest on: Depression
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Depression” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Depression
- Depression linked to chronic pain: Variability shown across patient characteristicson April 23, 2024 at 5:31 am
Chronic pain is a major global disability cause, affecting over 30% of the population and often coexisting with depression, which disables roughly 5% of adults worldwide. The relationship between ...
- Taking Psilocybin for Depression? Relationship With Therapist Is Keyon April 23, 2024 at 5:17 am
In their study of psilocybin for depression, “what persisted the most was the connection between the therapeutic alliance and long-term outcomes, which indicates the importance of a strong ...
- To make it to 100, he survived the Great Depression, WWII — and the Lahaina wildfireson April 23, 2024 at 3:13 am
Months have since passed since the tragedy, and while he is still heartbroken over it, he was thankful to have survived the fire and lived to see his 100th birthday. His family held a small party on ...
- Dealing With Post Vacation Depression? Here Are Some Tipson April 23, 2024 at 2:08 am
When you return from vacation, it’s natural to feel a bit blue or depressed, but post-vacation melancholy can manifest itself in a variety of ways. - Newsx ...
- Academic pressure linked to higher depression risk in teenson April 22, 2024 at 6:31 pm
A study in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health links academic achievement goals to increased risk of depression in adolescents, suggesting that the pressure to outperform peers may heighten ...
- Jerry Seinfeld Thinks the Movie Business Has Been Replaced With ‘Depression,’ ‘Malaise’ and ‘Confusion’on April 22, 2024 at 6:06 pm
Film doesn’t occupy the pinnacle in the social, cultural hierarchy that it did for most of our lives,” the "Unfrosted" comedian says The post Jerry Seinfeld Thinks the Movie Business Has Been Replaced ...
- Your Spouse’s Stroke Could Increase Your Depression Riskon April 22, 2024 at 1:09 pm
The spouses of people who have strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure are more likely to experience depression than people whose spouses didn’t have those health problem.
- Halle Bailey Spoke About Having "Severe" Postpartum Depressionon April 22, 2024 at 12:27 pm
"I feel like a completely different person when I look in the mirror. I just feel like I'm in a whole new body, and I don't know who I am." View Entire Post › ...
- Language models may miss signs of depression in Black people’s Facebook postson April 22, 2024 at 5:00 am
Researchers hope to use social media posts to identify population-wide spikes in depression. That approach could miss Black people, a study shows.
- 3 Things Not to Say to Someone Struggling With Depressionon April 21, 2024 at 8:14 am
Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While well-intentioned, sometimes we can inadvertently say things that can worsen the situation for someone ...
via Bing News