Contents
When studying a particular disease, scientists usually examine it from two points of view: how it can be cured, and how it can be prevented. However, in the case of mental illness, it is not uncommon for both to succeed. Even antidepressants do not cure depression, but stabilize the emotional state of a person – and only in combination with psychotherapy. Maybe it’s time to look for a new treatment?
Neuroscientist Rebecca Brachman decided to change the established paradigm. All these years, she and her colleagues have been developing a preventive complex that can prevent the development of mental illness by strengthening our natural system of resistance to stress.
If scientists succeed, they could not only “vaccinate” patients against the negative effects of trauma, but perhaps stop the spread of depression.
Mouse in the face of stress
Brachman came up with the idea to create a “pill for depression and stress” by chance: she did routine preparatory work before starting testing a new fast-acting antidepressant.
“I did an initial test to make sure that the drug did not affect the condition of the experimental mouse – did not impair its coordination or memory. As expected, there was no lasting effect. After some time, when the drug had already been eliminated from the body, I again involved the same mouse, but in another experiment related to stress.
It turned out that stress had no effect on the mouse – he remained just as happy and sociable
“And this despite the fact that usually this stressor provokes the development of depression! At first I thought it just didn’t work, but further research showed that everyone except that particular mouse had an effect. She seemed to have developed immunity to the trials that life (and I) had prepared for her. ”
It was then that Brachman thought that perhaps it was possible to develop a “vaccine” for stress – like for any other virus. She dubbed the new class of drugs “alexigents,” from the Greek alexo, meaning “to protect.”
A few words in defense of cortisol
Scientists still don’t know exactly what causes depression, but both depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reduce our body’s resistance to new traumatic experiences. It turns out that if the resistance is high, then we can withstand stress so effectively that we will not develop mental illness.
“For a long time we thought it was just the presence or absence of risk factors. That people with a genetic predisposition or those who grew up in a hostile environment are more likely to develop depression. Today we know that this is not all. Biology is the basis of resistance, which means that we can “pump” it, this function of our body.”
Another myth that Brachman and her colleagues debunk is that cortisol and other stress hormones are harmful.
“My colleague Michael Lehmann and I conducted a series of experiments in which we proved that if the production of corticosterone (the main stress hormone in the body of a mouse) is blocked, the antidepressant stops working on it.”
This is because stress hormones are an important part of the body’s defense system. For example, it is thanks to cortisol that we get energy from sugar, and our pressure rises. It also allows our body to receive energy, oxygen and adequately respond to an irritant – for example, to flee in case of danger. So this hormone is not bad in itself – only its excess is harmful, as well as its deficiency.
“Roly-Rise”
Another interesting point: what makes us resilient is not the ability to not experience stress at all, but the ability of our nervous system to quickly recover from a traumatic event. And you can help in this nervous system in different ways: for example, getting enough sleep, playing sports, communicating, adhering to proper nutrition. Alas, sometimes all these measures are not enough, and our body is not able to respond to stress in time and properly. And then we can develop depression.
So, in order to prevent it and PTSD, you need to help the nervous system – with the help of the very “alexigents” that Brachman and her team are working on. Thanks to them, we will still experience stress, but effectively deal with it in the moment.
Even before making the amazing discovery, Brachman and colleagues found that white blood cells can also be used to form our defenses, not only against depression, but also against anxiety. Does this mean that it is possible to create a “vaccine” not only for depression and PTSD, but also for generalized anxiety disorder, postpartum depression, and also to mitigate the effects of brain injuries? Scientists do not yet have an answer to this question, but they do not exclude such a possibility.
A great future is near?
So far, testing of “alexigents” gives very promising results. If the medicines pass all stages of testing and are certified, those who are on the front lines will be the first to receive them: the military, refugees, cancer patients and representatives of other vulnerable groups.
“Take the pandemic, both health care workers and vulnerable populations have been hit particularly hard by the effects of stress. Just imagine if we could prevent these consequences! Brachman says. “This, among other things, would allow governments to save millions in medical costs, not to mention reduce the “emotional loss” for families.”
Alas, this whole story has one big “but”: it can take up to ten years for this drug to appear on the market. Not least because the appearance of such a “vaccine” is not at all in the hands of medical giants.
Still, it’s definitely something to look forward to. And for those who are skeptical about the idea of creating a “vaccine against depression,” Brachman recalls that the idea of treating depression with pills once seemed sensational. Now we consider it as a given – or even as “the last century.” And we know it’s time to move on.