Summary
The Huberman Lab Podcast's latest episode focuses on disorders of the mind, such as depression, attention deficit disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The podcast explores the psychological and biological underpinnings of mood disorders and the various treatments that exist, such as behavioral tools, prescription drugs, supplements, and novel compounds. The podcast emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis by a qualified healthcare professional and warns against self-diagnosis.
The architecture of sleep is disrupted in major depression, with slow wave sleep preceding Rapid Eye Movement sleep being radically disrupted. The pleasure pathway in the brain, involving areas like the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area, is disrupted in depression. SSRIs work by preventing serotonin from being wiped up from the synapse after two neurons talk to one another, thereby increasing the efficacy of serotonin in the brain. The use of SSRIs in treating depression may trigger neuroplasticity by changing the way neural circuits function. The chemistry of depression involves norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and pain. These chemical systems relate to various symptoms of depression, including lethargy, lack of motivation, grief, guilt, and pain.
The podcast episode discusses the genetic predisposition to depression and the impact of stress on mood and wellbeing. Chronic inflammation in the brain and body is caused by inflammatory cytokines, which disrupt the biochemistry and dialogue between glial cells and neurons. This inflammation can lead to depression by inhibiting the release and synthesis of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The podcast encourages listeners to take steps to mitigate stress and reduce inflammation in order to maintain a healthy mind and body.
The podcast also discusses the effects of EPA, exercise, and creatine on major depression. EPA, as opposed to DHA, appears to be responsible for the efficacy of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation and depression. Creatine supplementation can increase mood and improve the symptoms of major depression, and it has been shown to increase mania in people that are already manic. The NMDA receptor is a critical gate for neuroplasticity and is involved in shifting brain circuitry. Ketamine and PCP are drugs of abuse that create dissociative anesthetic states and are being leveraged for the treatment of depression. Psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, is also being studied for its ability to rewire neural circuits and alleviate depression.
The use of food to medicate depression is common, with many people reaching for carbohydrate-rich foods to blunt cortisol and increase serotonin. While excessive food intake is unhealthy, the ketogenic diet has been explored for its ability to relieve certain symptoms of depression, particularly in people with major depressive disorder. The diet increases GABA transmission, which suppresses hyperexcitability, a characteristic feature of epilepsy. Other tools that can help depression include resetting the pleasure system, pursuing norepinephrine-inducing activities, taking EPA supplements, exercising regularly, and ingesting fermented foods. Psychiatrists can provide more information about the ketogenic diet and other treatments for depression.
