Press Release: A Tiny Molecule May Help Battle Depression

This press release was issued by the McGill University and the research has been published in Nature Medicine.

Newswise — Levels of a small molecule found only in humans and in other primates are lower in the brains of depressed individuals, according to researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute. This discovery may hold a key to improving treatment options for those who suffer from depression.

Depression is a common cause of disability, and while viable medications exist to treat it, finding the right medication for individual patients often amounts to trial and error for the physician. In a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine, Dr. Gustavo Turecki, a psychiatrist at the Douglas and professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at McGill, together with his team, discovered that the levels of a tiny molecule, miR-1202, may provide a marker for depression and help detect individuals who are likely to respond to antidepressant treatment.

“Using samples from the Douglas Bell-Canada Brain Bank, we examined brain tissues from individuals who were depressed and compared them with brain tissues from psychiatrically healthy individuals, says Turecki, who is also Director of the McGill Group for Suicide Studies, “We identified this molecule, a microRNA known as miR-1202, only found in humans and primates and discovered that it regulates an important receptor of the neurotransmitter glutamate”.

The team conducted a number of experiments that showed that antidepressants change the levels of this microRNA. “In our clinical trials with living depressed individuals treated with citalopram, a commonly prescribed antidepressant, we found lower levels in depressed individuals compared to the non-depressed individuals before treatment,” says Turecki. “Clearly, microRNA miR-1202 increased as the treatment worked and individuals no longer felt depressed.”

Antidepressant drugs are the most common treatment for depressive episodes, and are among the most prescribed medications in North America. “Although antidepressants are clearly effective, there is variability in how individuals respond to antidepressant treatment,” says Turecki, “We found that miR-1202 is different in individuals with depression and particularly, among those patients who eventually will respond to antidepressant treatment”.

The discovery may provide “a potential target for the development of new and more effective antidepressant treatments,” he adds.

The original press release can be found here.

You are not alone

If it feels like you are wading through the darkness or like dark clouds have gathered above you, then rest assured that you are far from alone. Depression can affect anyone, rich or poor, famous or not famous; depression does not care. The stats show that one in four of us will suffer from depression and that depression - and the anxiety that often comes with depression - are the most common forms of mental illness, so if you are suffering in the same way then remember you really aren't alone. Sharing how I was really feeling was the toughest thing for me. Sometimes I put a pretty good front on it and like most people I could pretend I was happy when I wasn't. At others times I liked to think that it must be obvious and desperately hoped that someone would notice how low I was feeling. but it was down to me to say that I needed help and not anyone else. For me, it was a private battle - and most days had become a battle - until I got to the point when I finally said "no more". As I have found, there is plenty of help out there and no one will hear your cries for help unless you shout loud enough. Actively seek help, and you'll find it. If you feel unable to talk to a doctor, then find one you can talk to and take it step-by-step.