A molecule that rejuvenates the brain and fights depression

GDF11. And if the end of the depression held in five signs? In 2013, researchers discovered that this protein, also called ” Growth differentiation factor 11 rejuvenates the heart. Ten years later, scientists from the Institut Pasteur, CNRS and Inserm recognize the rejuvenating effects of this molecule, but this time on the brain. A drug that has the advantage of being self-service in the human body and especially in the blood!

Tested on mice

The study, performed on mice, was published in the journal Nature Aging on February 2, 2023. It first shows that the GDF11 “ has a beneficial effect on olfactory perceptions and on the process of generation of new cells in the brain of aged mice “. The scientists note in particular that its long-term administration improves the memorization capacities of mice and significantly reduces their behavioral problems linked to a depressive state. By what mechanism? This is what the research team involved in this project sought to find out. As a result, she discovered that the administration of the GDF11 protein activates cell regeneration, via the principle of ” autophagy (Read: Autophagy, eating yourself to stay healthy? ), which participates in particular in the elimination of cells at the origin of aging in the body.

A new therapeutic model?

This tends to demonstrate that the aging process is often linked to the appearance of depressive states, and vice versa. To confirm the hypothesis in humans, the Institut Pasteur, CNRS, Inserm and McMaster University (Canada) brought together a cohort of young patients with depressive disorders to assess their GDF11 levels in the blood. Unsurprisingly, they observed that it was significantly lower and that its level varied according to the fluctuations of their psychic state. The link between GDF11 deficiency – in short, the body’s rejuvenating protein – and depression therefore seems to be proven. ” This work provides clinical evidence linking low blood levels of GDF11 to mood disorders in patients with depression », adds Lida Katsimpardi, co-author of the study. Next step ? Use this molecule as an effective biomarker in the context of depression diagnosis. ” It could also serve as a therapeutic molecule for the treatment of cognitive and affective dysfunctions, continues Lida Katsimpardi.