1. Why do we not reverse the path? Stress can cause depression, reduction of brain- derived neurotrophic factor and increased inflammation
- Author
-
Angelo Emilio Claro, Clelia Palanza, Marianna Mazza, Alessandro Rizzi, Linda Tartaglione, Giuseppe Marano, Giovanna Muti-Schuenemann, Marta Rigoni, Paola Muti, Alfredo Pontecorvi, Luigi Janiri, Gabriele Sani, and Dario Pitocco
- Subjects
Inflammation ,Psychological stress ,Depression ,Settore M-PSI/02 - PSICOBIOLOGIA E PSICOLOGIA FISIOLOGICA ,Type 2 diabetes mellitus ,General Earth and Planetary Sciences ,Brain-derived neurotrophic factor ,Dementia ,Settore MED/13 - ENDOCRINOLOGIA ,General Environmental Science ,Settore MED/01 - Statistica Medica - Abstract
The aim of this paper is to describe the direction of the link between stress, depression, increased inflammation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) reduction. We hypothesize that severe stress or prolonged stress can be the driving factor that promote the onset of depression. Both stress and depression, if not resolved over time, activate the production of transcription factors that will switch on pro-inflammatory genes and translate them into cytokines. This cascade fosters systemic chronic inflammation and reduced plasma BDNF levels. Since people with depression have a 60% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and show high levels of inflammation and low levels of BDNF, we hypothesize possible reasons that might explain why T2D, depression and dementia are often associated in the same patient.
- Published
- 2022