Is Depression in Part a Mitochondrial Disorder?

[Cort]

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"We see an unexpected link between cellular energetics and major depression, which has always been seen as a mood disorder. We were surprised at the observation that there was a difference in mitochondrial DNA--so surprised it took us a long time to convince ourselves it was real, and not an artifact."​

While searching through genes in a large study....​

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The researchers noticed something rather unusual in the DNA. The samples taken from women with a history of stress-related depression contained more mitochondrial DNA than other samples.​

"Our most notable finding is that the amount of mitochondrial DNA changes in response to stress," says Professor Jonathan Flint of the University of Oxford.​

Mitochondria are compartments in cells responsible for generating energy. An increase in mitochondrial DNA suggests a change in mitochondria and cellular energetics, Flint explains.​

They proposed that the molecular changes they observed might reflect the body's way of coping with major environmental stressors. As our brains perceive a threat--lack of food or a history of abuse, for example--it may initiate a series of protective metabolic changes.​

"Depression might in some sense be considered a metabolic reaction to perceived stress," Flint says.

Does that suggest you could reduce depression by boosting the mitochrondria?

Read more: http://www.science20.com/news_articles/depression_leaves_a_metabolic_signature_on_mitochondria-155061#ixzz3YK3gnfMU

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Read more: http://www.science20.com/news_articles/depression_leaves_a_metabolic_signature_on_mitochondria-155061#ixzz3YK1oOLrO​