Exercise Your Kynurenines to Fight Depression
Francesca M Notarangelo1, Ana Pocivavsek1, Robert Schwarcz1
1Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA.
Trends in Neurosciences
|July 29, 2018
Summary
Exercise can help build resilience to depression by influencing kynurenine metabolism in muscles, which affects the brain. This pathway highlights a key link between physical activity and mental health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic pathways
- Exercise physiology
Background:
- Kynurenines, derived from tryptophan, are implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders.
- Previous research suggests exercise influences kynurenine metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of kynurenine metabolism in depression.
- To understand how exercise modulates kynurenine pathways and impacts mental resilience.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the metabolic products of tryptophan in skeletal muscle.
- Examined the indirect effects of exercise on kynurenine pathways.
- Assessed the influence of these metabolic changes on brain function and depression resilience.
Main Results:
- Exercise indirectly modulates kynurenine metabolism in skeletal muscle.
- This modulation of kynurenines in muscle tissue impacts brain function.
- The exercise-induced changes in kynurenine metabolism enhance resilience to depression.
Conclusions:
- Kynurenine metabolism is a critical link between exercise and mental health.
- Modulating kynurenine pathways through physical activity offers a potential strategy for depression resilience.
- Skeletal muscle plays a significant role in mediating the neurobiological effects of exercise relevant to mood disorders.
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