This brain molecule could be useful in treatment of anxiety: study
| Aug 20, 2019, 19:39 IST
In stressful times like ours, the rising rates in anxiety cases isn’t that surprising. Studies are also being conducted to delve deeper into its aspects and help find the causes and different symptoms and the various approaches that could be used to treat it.
Despite being polar opposite, anxiety is often confused with depression. While depression can be broadly described as a prolonged period of sadness, anxiety is more about restlessness and fear.
Common symptoms of anxiety are:
Feeling agitated
Difficulty in concentrating
Fatigue
According to researchers there is an effective way to combat anxiety. A news release from the University of California-Davis mentioned that previous studies focused on the dorsal amygdale, the part of the brain linked to emotional processing. Molecular changes were suspected to cause anxiety, so the researchers further narrowed down their study to one particular molecule- neurotrophin-3. This was done after some RNA sequencing.
This molecule is responsible for growth of neurons and making new connections. The researchers used an altered virus to enhance neurotrophin-3 in the brains of preadolescent rhesus macaques monkeys.
With increased levels of neurotrophin-3, the monkeys showed fewer behaviours linked to anxiety, including inhibition. An additional brain imaging revealed that this helped in changing activity in all the areas of the brain that play a role in anxiety.
While there are a lot of molecules that influence our sequence of emotions and mental health, this molecule is extremely important. As published in Biological Psychiatry, the study of this molecule can help in the treatment of both, anxiety and depression. A treatment based on neurotrophin-3 can be viable if the imaging is done at earlier ages, which will be extremely beneficial for children to become healthier adults. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety is the most common mental illness in USA affecting about 40 million people. Out of these, only few get diagnosed and receive treatment.
Sometimes, anxiety helps in being a good motivator, according to Wanda Thibodeaux. You can check your work, or analyse risks better when you pay attention to details. But the study is nonetheless a sign of hope for everyone.
Despite being polar opposite, anxiety is often confused with depression. While depression can be broadly described as a prolonged period of sadness, anxiety is more about restlessness and fear.
Common symptoms of anxiety are:
Feeling agitated
Difficulty in concentrating
Fatigue
According to researchers there is an effective way to combat anxiety. A news release from the University of California-Davis mentioned that previous studies focused on the dorsal amygdale, the part of the brain linked to emotional processing. Molecular changes were suspected to cause anxiety, so the researchers further narrowed down their study to one particular molecule- neurotrophin-3. This was done after some RNA sequencing.
This molecule is responsible for growth of neurons and making new connections. The researchers used an altered virus to enhance neurotrophin-3 in the brains of preadolescent rhesus macaques monkeys.
With increased levels of neurotrophin-3, the monkeys showed fewer behaviours linked to anxiety, including inhibition. An additional brain imaging revealed that this helped in changing activity in all the areas of the brain that play a role in anxiety.
While there are a lot of molecules that influence our sequence of emotions and mental health, this molecule is extremely important. As published in Biological Psychiatry, the study of this molecule can help in the treatment of both, anxiety and depression. A treatment based on neurotrophin-3 can be viable if the imaging is done at earlier ages, which will be extremely beneficial for children to become healthier adults. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety is the most common mental illness in USA affecting about 40 million people. Out of these, only few get diagnosed and receive treatment.
Sometimes, anxiety helps in being a good motivator, according to Wanda Thibodeaux. You can check your work, or analyse risks better when you pay attention to details. But the study is nonetheless a sign of hope for everyone.