Health & Fitness

Almost every person that is addicted to drugs or alcohol has the underlying problem of Depression. They just use the drug or drink as a coping device. While in the hospital, those of us there because of suicidal thoughts actually had group counseling sessions with those that were in for substance abuse and this was the reason why.

This makes a great deal of sense. If those of us that deal with Depression are completely honest, then we probably all have a coping device. It is just that many of us use legal substances, so it does not raise eyebrows. My personal addiction is food. As a teenager I was anorexic, and now as an adult I binge-eat. Others may shop to make themselves feel better, some gamble, and still others use sex to fill the void. But that is exactly what we are all doing; trying to fill the hollow feeling inside that our Depression causes us to experience.

A new study by the University of California, San Diego published in the issue of Nature Medicine really piqued my attention. Researchers have observed positive results regarding memory loss, cognitive impairment and brain cell death which were prevented or reversed in several animal models after treatment with a naturally occurring protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Based on animal studies, BDNF treatment could provide long-lasting protection by slowing, or stopping the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Mark Tuszynski, MD, PhD, professor of neurosciences, “The effects of BDNF were potent. When we administered BDNF to memory circuits in the brain, we directly stimulated their activity and prevented cell death from the underlying disease.” BDNF is normally produced throughout life in the part of the brain that supports memory. However, BDNF decreases when there is Alzheimer’s disease.

BDNF acts directly on dying cells in the brain connected to memory function. It prevents cellular death and improves signaling function which of course improves memory and learning. The effectiveness and safety of BDNF in animals makes it worthy of human trials.