Over the last decade, the compound resveratrol has generated a lot of discussion in medical circles around the world. In nature, resveratrol can be found in things like the skin of grapes or berries. When manufactured, it can be found in red wine. It appears that this compound is among some of the few substances that may offer new hope for those suffering from one of the most common illnesses in the world: depression.
It should not be a surprise to learn that in 2017, an estimated 7.1% of adults in the United States suffered a major depressive episode. This ever-growing statistic means the demand for new and viable treatments is also increasing.
Currently, the first-line treatment for depression involves talk therapy and a daily dose of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This class of drug is effective at enabling serotonin to stick around in the brain for much longer, but studies have shown that this may not be the only biological process to play a major role in regulating and producing a positive mood. Sadly, for up to 60% of patients, SSRI’s alone have proven to be ineffective at relieving depressive symptoms.
While scientists still do not fully understand the root causes of depression, what they do understand—and can, in fact, observe—are the biological changes that occur before, during, and after someone experiences depression. One popular interpretation suggests that depression and chronic stress damage neurons in the hippocampus, which then makes individuals more prone to experiencing further levels of the same symptoms. One study showed that rodents with increased cortisol levels experienced cell lesions in the brain. However, once these rodents were treated with resveratrol, the number of lesions was reduced. Thus, resveratrol may play a significant role in counteracting the negative impact of depression on the brain.
Around the world, a number of studies have shown how resveratrol may inhibit the symptoms of both anxiety and depression. In one particular study, the benefits of resveratrol on the brains of mice appeared to originate from from its effects on the production of a specific family of enzymes called PDE4. When these enzymes were inhibited, the production of another biological messenger called cAMP was significantly increased. As a result, the anxiety and depression-like behavior observed in the mice was significantly reduced.
This is research and its proceeding discoveries are all fantastic news for all of those who are left in the wake of repeated unsuccessful depression treatments thus far. New potential for treatments like this—ones that utilize unique neural pathways and processes besides serotonin—are desperately needed and long overdue. This is why ketamine infusions have turned the world of depression treatment upside down. By treating depression via a unique neural pathway, ketamine infusions boast a 70% success rate, with rapid symptomatic relief.
Contact Vitalitas Denver
Vitalitas Denver is one of Denver’s leading ketamine clinics, with clinic locations in Littleton and Westminster, CO. We have performed thousands of ketamine infusions over the years, and are happy to answer any questions you have about ketamine infusions and how they could help you or a loved one. Contact us today and take the first step towards reclaiming your mental wellbeing.
