Depression: It could be the absence of protein

Depression is a disease of which more and more people are suffering in the world, but little is known about the origins of this disease. To shed light and pave the way for new therapeutic approaches, a study conducted by researchers at Victoria University published an article in the scientific journal Frontiers in Neuroscience that uncovered how the absence a particular protein could trigger depression. This protein would be the relin, involved in the process of formation of the cerebral cortex, in the positioning of neurons and in the mechanisms of memory.

Research has shown the existence of an etiological link between relin levels and depressive symptoms, a correlation found in animals and humans. "We are trying to propose a new neurobiological theory for the causes of depression, which can then be used to develop new treatments that will work faster, in more patients and with fewer side effects," explains Lisa Kalynchuk. , neuroscientist of the Australian University.