Nicholas Fabiano, MD Profile picture
Jun 4, 2024 18 tweets 4 min read Read on X
The neuroplasticity framework of depression has the potential to replace the serotonin deficit hypothesis.

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The serotonin deficit hypothesis explanation for depression has persisted among clinicians and the general public alike despite insufficient supporting evidence. 2/17 nature.com/articles/s4138…
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We must acknowledge that multiple biopsychosocial factors can interact with each other and converge on depression pathophysiology; these myriad of contributing factors converge in ways that are not yet fully understood to cause the symptoms of depression. 3/17 Image
Although heterogeneous and distinct for each patient, these symptoms share features of dysfunction in brain circuits that process emotional and cognitive information and regulate survival functions like energy and motivation. 4/17
These dysfunctional circuits leave individuals “stuck” in a state characterized by negativity bias, depressed mood, anhedonia, and dysfunction in several other behavioural domains, such as motivation, appetite, and sleep. 5/17
In particular, being stuck in a rut of negative information processing can be understood as an impairment in cognitive and emotional flexibility. 6/17
As such, people with depression are slower to adapt to changing rules in cognitive flexibility and remain stuck with a narrow or rigid repertoire of emotions. 7/17
Collectively, these findings result in a tendency to perseverate on negative information and an impaired ability to respond to positive input. 8/17
From a structural level, the behavioural symptoms of depression come from changes in the volume, activity, and connectivity of brain regions and networks involved in emotional salience, reward processing, motivation, and executive functioning. 9/17
Key brain regions involved in depression pathophysiology include the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, nucleus accumbens (NAc), and amygdala; broadly speaking, the activity of these brain regions and their connectivity with each other are primarily dampened. 10/17
At the cellular level, there is evidence of dysfunction in synapses: the junctions between neurons where electrical signals and chemical neurotransmitters pass from the axon of a sending (presynaptic) neuron to the dendrites of a receiving (postsynaptic) neuron. 11/17 Image
Synaptic dysfunction is most evident in pyramidal neurons, a prevalent class of neurons that release glutamate, thereby activating target neurons that release other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and acetylcholine. 12/17
A growing body of evidence suggests that treatments for depression work by enhancing neuroplasticity, rewiring dysfunctional brain circuits and synapses in adaptive ways that allow patients to become “unstuck” from negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. 13/17
Monoamines are still essential for antidepressant effects, but rather than correcting a deficit, the serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic activity of typical antidepressants likely play two major roles in facilitating the therapeutic response. 14/17
(1) triggering downstream molecular cascades that result in neuroplasticity more chronically, and (2) changing emotional processing and behaviour more acutely. 15/17
Similar mechanisms involving neuroplasticity likely underlie the effects of novel “antidepressants” such as ketamine and psychedelics. 16/17
Overall, in this new model, although depression cannot accurately be considered a deficit in serotonin, serotonin still has a role to play through its interactions with mechanisms of neuroplasticity. 17/17
Read more from the full paper in @molpsychiatry here nature.com/articles/s4138…

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More from @NTFabiano

Apr 25
Psilocybin led to increased brain complexity & spontaneous behaviour in a person with a post-comatose disorder of consciousness.

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These findings are from a case report in @ClinicalNeuroph which describe the first-ever administration of psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, to a patient in a minimally conscious state. 2/10 sciencedirect.com/science/articl…Image
With very few treatments available, post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC) pose one of the hardest challenges in modern neurology. 3/10
Read 11 tweets
Apr 23
The amygdala is a brain region involved in stress.

Resting metabolic activity of the amygdala significantly predicts the development of cardiovascular disease.

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These findings are from a study in @TheLancet which aimed to determine whether resting metabolic activity of the amygdala predicted risk of subsequent cardiovascular events. 2/10 thelancet.com/journals/lance…Image
Stress prompts activation of both the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, leading to increases in circulating catecholamines, glucocorticoids, and (eventually) inflammatory cytokines. 3/10 Image
Read 10 tweets
Apr 21
Why do living organisms need sleep?

A new theory suggests that myelin acts as a proton capacitor, accumulating energy during sleep.

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These findings are from a paper in @ElsevierConnect which discussed a novel hypothesis as to why living organisms need sleep. 2/12 sciencedirect.com/science/articl…Image
Myelin is formed by specific glial cell types (oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system) that generate a multilayer sheath around nerve cell axons. 3/12 Image
Read 12 tweets
Apr 20
The human brain emits light that reflects changes in cognitive state.

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These findings are from a study in @iScience_CP which investigated the role of ultraweak photon emissions (UPEs) in the human brain. 2/12 cell.com/iscience/fullt…Image
Cells and tissues are traditionally understood to communicate through molecules and gene transcription; however, an emerging dimension of biophysical signaling is gaining attention - the role of light signals, in the form of UPEs. 3/12 Image
Read 12 tweets
Apr 18
I just filmed a 1.5 hour podcast on creatine for mental health.

Here are the highlights.

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While creatine's role in muscle energetics is well-established, its equally crucial function in brain metabolism has recently gained scientific attention. 2/10
Depression, a state of increased metabolic demand, can be conceptualized through the lens of altered brain bioenergetics; here, creatine is able to quickly replenish ATP (energy) levels in the brain. 3/10
Read 11 tweets
Apr 17
Our paper was just published in European Neuropsychopharmacology.

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Creatine, a nitrogenous organic composed of the amino acids arginine, glycine and methionine, is a common and well-researched supplement used among athletes and bodybuilders to improve physical performance. 2/18
Through interaction with the enzyme creatine kinase, it gains a phosphate group, where it is stored as phosphocreatine largely in the muscles (approximately 95%) with the remaining in the kidneys, liver and brain. 3/18 Image
Read 20 tweets

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