Brain Protein May Be Linked to Depression

Scientists have discovered a protein that seems to play a crucial role in developing depression, a finding that may lead to new treatments for the often debilitating illness — and fundamental understanding of why it strikes.

Although problems with the mood-regulating brain chemical serotonin have long been linked to depression, scientists don’t know what causes the disease that afflicts some 18 million Americans — or exactly what serotonin’s role is.

The newly found protein, named p11, appears to regulate how brain cells respond to serotonin, researchers from Rockefeller University and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute report Friday in the journal Science.

“We’re all very excited about this discovery,” said Nobel laureate Paul Greengard, a Rockefeller neuroscientist who led the research. “People have been looking for modulators of serotonin for a long time.”

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 7 Jan 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.