Journal
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
Volume 30, Issue -, Pages 51-58Publisher
CURRENT BIOLOGY LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2014.08.012
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Leon Levy Foundation
- National Institute for Mental Health [R25: MH086466-03, R37 MH068542]
- National Institute on Aging [R01 AG043688]
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [R01NS081203-01A1]
- NYSTEM [C029157]
- Hope for Depression Research Foundation [RGA 11-024]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Newborn neurons are continuously added to the adult hippocampus. Early studies found that adult neurogenesis is impaired in models of depression and anxiety and accelerated by antidepressant treatment. This led to the theory that depression results from impaired adult neurogenesis and restoration of adult neurogenesis leads to recovery. Follow up studies yielded a complex body of often inconsistent results, and the veracity of this theory is uncertain. We propose five criteria for acceptance of this theory, we review the recent evidence for each criterion, and we draw the following conclusions: Diverse animal models of depression and anxiety have impaired neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is consistently boosted by antidepressants in animal models only when animals are stressed. Ablation of neurogenesis in animal models impairs cognitive functions relevant to depression, but only a minority of studies find that ablation causes depression or anxiety. Recent human neuroimaging and postmortem studies are consistent with the neurogenic theory, but they are indirect. Finally, a novel drug developed based on the neurogenic theory is promising in animal models.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available