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| Illustration (dok: Thinkstock) |
When someone decides to end his own life, there are changes in the brain. A chemical in the brain can cause inflammation when it is depressed and this can disturb the mind and encourage someone to commit suicide.
According to new research, in the brain of someone who committed suicide had elevated levels of quinolinic acid in the fluid surrounding the central nervous system. These findings may explain that mental illness can cause inflammation of the brain that can trigger the desire to end his own life.
Previously, scientists have linked the relationship between suicidal ideation with a type of inflammation of the body due to stress or during sickness, but scientists have been unable to explain how inflammation can lead to depression, hopelessness, and suicidal.
Risk factors for suicide is quite tricky to pin down. Brundin and his associates have previously found that patients who committed suicide had high levels of cytokines, the molecules of a protein associated with inflammation. Inflammation is an immune reaction that occurs due to a short-term injury or infection that can damage the body if it is chronic.
Studies in mice also found that the immune system is too active seems to be associated with depression. However, researchers have not been able to understand how the inflammatory process can affect mental health.
Recent research led by researchers Lena Brundin, a professor of molecular medicine at Michigan State University, and included 100 patients in Sweden who were depressed. Approximately two-thirds of the patients involved in these studies have been undergo hospitalization for a suicide attempt.
Researchers found that the higher levels of quinolinic acid in spinal fluid of patients, the stronger the desire to commit suicide. Quinolinic acid is a compound that is produced by inflammation and has an effect similar to the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain.
In particular, the neurotransmitter glutamate may be able to offer a new avenue for the treatment of depression that makes people want to kill myself. A small studies have suggested that ketamine injected into the bloodstream to prevent someone from suicide. Ketamine has an anti-glutamate.
Brundin and his colleagues have reported their findings in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology December edition.
According to new research, in the brain of someone who committed suicide had elevated levels of quinolinic acid in the fluid surrounding the central nervous system. These findings may explain that mental illness can cause inflammation of the brain that can trigger the desire to end his own life.
Previously, scientists have linked the relationship between suicidal ideation with a type of inflammation of the body due to stress or during sickness, but scientists have been unable to explain how inflammation can lead to depression, hopelessness, and suicidal.
Risk factors for suicide is quite tricky to pin down. Brundin and his associates have previously found that patients who committed suicide had high levels of cytokines, the molecules of a protein associated with inflammation. Inflammation is an immune reaction that occurs due to a short-term injury or infection that can damage the body if it is chronic.
Studies in mice also found that the immune system is too active seems to be associated with depression. However, researchers have not been able to understand how the inflammatory process can affect mental health.
Recent research led by researchers Lena Brundin, a professor of molecular medicine at Michigan State University, and included 100 patients in Sweden who were depressed. Approximately two-thirds of the patients involved in these studies have been undergo hospitalization for a suicide attempt.
Researchers found that the higher levels of quinolinic acid in spinal fluid of patients, the stronger the desire to commit suicide. Quinolinic acid is a compound that is produced by inflammation and has an effect similar to the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain.
In particular, the neurotransmitter glutamate may be able to offer a new avenue for the treatment of depression that makes people want to kill myself. A small studies have suggested that ketamine injected into the bloodstream to prevent someone from suicide. Ketamine has an anti-glutamate.
Brundin and his colleagues have reported their findings in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology December edition.
Source: journal Neuropsychopharmacology
