One of Beam Me Up's cadre, Dave, sent in a very interesting article from BBC World New online. He also added an interesting comment on the subject as well: Hi Paul, I found an article that may be interest for Beam Me Up. "The natural "high" produced by exercise could one day be available in a pill that targets a gene in our brains." It seems to me that something like this, contentment in a pill, could easily be abused in a near future dystopia setting - not only is life bad but here's the medicine to make you happy with your bad life.
Exercise pill hope for depression E he natural "high" produced by exercise could one day be available in a pill that targets a gene in our brains. The Yale University experts say that experiments on mice could show why regular exercise can help people suffering from depression. Mental Health charities in the UK already back exercise programmes as a way of lifting depression. While the link between exercise and improved mood is well known, the reasons behind it are not fully understood. The latest research focuses on an area of the brain called the hippocampus, which is already established as a target for antidepressant drugs. The team developed a test to see which genes in this region were made more active during exercise, and highlighted one called VGF. This gene is linked to a "growth factor" chemical involved in the development of nerve cells. This fitted with their theory that, for depression to lift, changes in the actual structure and links between brain cells are needed, not just changes in the chemicals surrounding the cells. The next step was to make a version of that chemical, and to test it on mice, where it showed an effect on their behaviour that roughly equated to antidepressant effects in humans. The researchers believe that a drug based on VGF could offer "possibly even superior efficacy" to current antidepressants.
Exercise pill hope for depression E he natural "high" produced by exercise could one day be available in a pill that targets a gene in our brains. The Yale University experts say that experiments on mice could show why regular exercise can help people suffering from depression. Mental Health charities in the UK already back exercise programmes as a way of lifting depression. While the link between exercise and improved mood is well known, the reasons behind it are not fully understood. The latest research focuses on an area of the brain called the hippocampus, which is already established as a target for antidepressant drugs. The team developed a test to see which genes in this region were made more active during exercise, and highlighted one called VGF. This gene is linked to a "growth factor" chemical involved in the development of nerve cells. This fitted with their theory that, for depression to lift, changes in the actual structure and links between brain cells are needed, not just changes in the chemicals surrounding the cells. The next step was to make a version of that chemical, and to test it on mice, where it showed an effect on their behaviour that roughly equated to antidepressant effects in humans. The researchers believe that a drug based on VGF could offer "possibly even superior efficacy" to current antidepressants.
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5 comments:
Oh, joy, a new antidepressant. As a (prescribed) consumer of said class of meds, I am leery enough about my present compound of preference to be wary on adopting another.
But this new one? Mimics runners high, eh? I think I'll try the exercise route first...break out the oars and pedals. But...hope springs eternal in the land of the medicated.
Why not simply exercise???
Brain chemistry and associated cascade effects from drugs are hardly understood...joy in a bottle - not.
Why not exercise indeed! But the father of MallCity has to be lovin this! This article fits so well int H.A.D.! Think about it, with outdoor activities frowned upon and exercise aberrant behavior, this well being in a pill, is the perfect answer for the mall city gurus.
Oh yes, it fits in with the 'Mallcity' ethos, but I wish that what I wrote didn't come closer to reality everyday...the thing is, though, that what I wrote in 'Mallcity 14' and the 'Fabcola' spin-off prequel stories never was set too far away...(which may be why readers often tell me that they see 'everyday' things rather
differently after reading Mallcity 14)
The 'H.A.D.' story Paul referred to can be found at:
http://www.sunnimaravillosa.com/node/1256
Shaun, what a totally weird comment from an author, but I do remember your caveat from before "you write to warn and hopefully avoid the future" brings it into perspective. It really has to be so weird though, to keep nailing it this close! Its not like we hear something every now and then, but almost weekly!!!!!
Heads up listeners, H.A.D. will be airing on a future episode of BMU in early 2008, I will post a note when it hits the schedule.
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