Key Protein May Lead to Faster Acting Anti-Depression Drugs

There is no single known cause for depression. Depression is believed to result from a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental and psychological factors. Each year over 17 million American adults experienced a period of clinical depression. In Alzheimer’s patients, depression is a major problem that often results in agitation. Depression experts claim that many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. Some have suggested that if antidepressants started working in hours or days rather than weeks or months—more people would seek treatment.

Dr. Paul Greengard, Medical Director of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and his colleagues have taken a step in this direction. They have identified a key protein that might help drug makers create pills that alleviate the symptoms of depression faster.

The finding, reported in The Journal of Neuroscience by Dr. Greengard, Dr. Jennifer L. Warner-Schmidt and colleagues in Sweden, gives further credence to the proposition (originally proposed by Greengard and colleagues) that a protein, called p11, is a key player in depressive illness and may lead investigators to new treatments.

Dr. Paul Greengard, Medical Director of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and his colleagues have taken a step in this direction. They have identified a key protein that might help drug makers create pills that alleviate the symptoms of depression faster.

The finding, reported in The Journal of Neuroscience by Dr. Greengard, Dr. Jennifer L. Warner-Schmidt and colleagues in Sweden, gives further credence to the proposition (originally proposed by Greengard and colleagues) that a protein, called p11, is a key player in depressive illness and may lead investigators to new treatments.

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