Posted by SLS on September 19, 2022, at 11:23:32
In reply to Re: To SLS » SLS, posted by undopaminergic on September 19, 2022, at 7:48:00
> > There is some thought that low glutamate activity contributes to depression.
> >
>
> Or the opposite, given that ketamine works to mitigate depression. Likewise memantine. Both of them block NMDA-subtype glutamate receptors.
>
> It's always possible, and even likely, that glutamatergic neurotransmission is too high and and too low, but in different areas of the brain.
>
> -undopaminergic
>
You only quoted part of my post.This is the whole passage:
"There is some thought that low glutamate activity contributes to depression. The conundrum is always the same. Is low glutamate the cause of depression or is depression the cause of low glutamate."
I guess you missed the second sentence when you quoted the first.
As far as describing the seemingly contradictory associations between glutamate activity and clinical mood state, I don't think there is a consensus to account for it. Your hypothesis is very reasonable. However, there is a trend on the part of researchers towards describing a positive association between glutamate levels and clinical mood state.
Low glutamate activity = Depression
High glutamate activity = ManiaThere are (at least) three types of glutamate receptors.
NMDA receptors
AMPA receptors
Kainate receptorsYour idea of location being important might be explainable by opposite effects among the receptor subtypes.
One very important, but not yet verified by a consensus of researchers, is that the effects of lithium are bimodal. Low dosages of lithium yield an increase in glutamate activity and an improvement of depression. However, low dosages are ineffective to improve or prevent mania. Only the traditional high dosages of lithium decrease glutamate activity and improves mania, and perhaps rapid cycling.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
poster:SLS
thread:1120673
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20220917/msgs/1120726.html