Exercise Antidepressant By Stimulating Brain Cell Creation?

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI ) antidepressant drugs (e.g. Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac) are known to stimulate replication of brain stem cells to produce new neurons. The delay in the antidepressant action of SSRIs might be due to the delay before they start causing substantial neuron creation. Well, exercise has an antidepressant effect and perhaps not coincidentally exercise also causes new neuron generation in the brain.

Exercise has a similar effect to antidepressants on depression. This has been shown by previous research. Now Astrid Bjørnebekk at Karolinska Institutet has explained how this can happen: exercise stimulates the production of new brain cells.

In a series of scientific reports, she has searched for the underlying biological mechanisms that explain why exercise can be a form of therapy for depression and has also compared it with pharmacological treatment with an SSRI drug.

The experiment studies were conducted on rats. The results show that both exercise and antidepressants increase the formation of new cells in an area of the brain that is important to memory and learning. Astrid Bjørnebekk’s studies confirm previous research results, and she proposes a model to explain how exercise can have an antidepressant effect in mild to moderately severe depression. Her study also shows that exercise is a very good complement to medicines.

“What is interesting is that the effect of antidepressant therapy can be greatly strengthened by external environmental factors,” she says.

There's a practical question here for people suffering from depression: Do exercise and SSRI add up together to an antidepressant effect that is greater than either of them alone?

What I want to know: How does exercise stimulate brain cell growth? Blood pressure changes? Increased oxygen into the brain? Other?

Also, does exercise increase memory formation even in the non-depressed?

http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/004354.html

What I would like to know is, what kind of exercise stimulates neuron production? Anything that gets the heart moving, or aerobic exercise specifically?

I think it's any kind of exercise... Anyways there's something to this. People who keep in shape are often happier than unhealthy people.

yes...... this the type of thing I can really contribute to. I only wish I would have found it earlier in the day.

anyhow....

endorphins are one of the first levels of real pleasure in exercise. There are a number of beginning chemical reactions for pulse, heart rate and sweat to begin. But endorphins are the beginning of pleasure, beyond relief.

So, as a test, just do anything that will get you to a point of sweating during the activity. Many activities will make you start sweating when you stop, but do something through the point of sweat flowing.

at that point the brain begins to desire rest because the body is saying, we are hot. push past that and endorphins will begin to flow.

Stress will be relieved because the brain will begin to eliminate the crap in order to deal with the current physical stress.

one the activity is stopped, the brain will not recall some of the stress that was previously present.

FF

Thanks a lot for that, flyinfree. That was greatly helpful.

I want to take more time on this. there are chemicals that are also releases in the process of cooling (sweat) that force the brain to resupply. It uses a neron in the brain to stimulate the expulsion of liquid, and does not use protons,,, thus ofsetting to a positive micro neuro blah blah balh. the more you sweat, under physical strain, the better it gets is the point. You can even begin to tap into 'dopemine' which is wonderful!!! heroine in effect.

sitting in a steam bath will make you sweat, but it will not necessarily releave stress.

i digress. sorry,,,, I gotta go.

P.S. An adrenaline 'squirt' such as in a skydive will rinse away alot in the brain. the moments and hours following such mental flooding are of the most peaceful to be found.

FF

Gud Gawd! I wish I had known this stuff ages ago!

I want to take more time on this. there are chemicals that are also releases in the process of cooling (sweat) that force the brain to resupply. It uses a neron in the brain to stimulate the expulsion of liquid, and does not use protons,,, thus ofsetting to a positive micro neuro blah blah balh. the more you sweat, under physical strain, the better it gets is the point. You can even begin to tap into 'dopemine' which is wonderful!!! heroine in effect.

sitting in a steam bath will make you sweat, but it will not necessarily releave stress.

i digress. sorry,,,, I gotta go.

P.S. An adrenaline 'squirt' such as in a skydive will rinse away alot in the brain. the moments and hours following such mental flooding are of the most peaceful to be found.

FF

That's one of the effects that keep marathoners going.

Also with regard to the adrenaline squirt, that is why anxiety disorder can be a hard battle. One's body reacts inappropriately to a non threatening stimulus... there is a huge adrenaline rush, after the fear calms there can be am almost hypnotic sense of relief. It can be addicting.

Oh and anxiety and depression are related.

Doesnt sex accomplish the same thing?

I can't remember ever being depressed during sex. Afterwards is a whole different matter however.

I never feel depressed afterwards either.
I roll over, smoke a cigarette, and ler her worry if she got knocked up or not....

yes...... this the type of thing I can really contribute to. I only wish I would have found it earlier in the day.

anyhow....

endorphins are one of the first levels of real pleasure in exercise. There are a number of beginning chemical reactions for pulse, heart rate and sweat to begin. But endorphins are the beginning of pleasure, beyond relief.

So, as a test, just do anything that will get you to a point of sweating during the activity. Many activities will make you start sweating when you stop, but do something through the point of sweat flowing.

at that point the brain begins to desire rest because the body is saying, we are hot. push past that and endorphins will begin to flow.

Stress will be relieved because the brain will begin to eliminate the crap in order to deal with the current physical stress.

one the activity is stopped, the brain will not recall some of the stress that was previously present.

FF

Yep - that's what runnin' does, and then you sweat, and sweat, and sweat - LOL - I love it - it always makes me feel good.:hula:

I guess it just means that we can't excercise during in depression...
Causal connection is reversed.

Any kind of excercise helps me. Whether it be walking, jogging, biking, or playing a really violent video game to vent my frustrations...