Statistics claim: depression is a disease that affects twice as many women as men, especially after the age of 55 – health authorities estimate 1 French out of 10 will be affected in their lifetime. How to explain this difference? Researchers at Michigan State University (in the United States) may have an answer to this difficult question …
American researchers (who published their work in the specialized journal Biological Psychiatry) worked with a group of male rats and a group of female rats. Rodents of both sexes were put through an episode of stress while researchers observed their brain activity.
The key to the mechanism: testosterone
Verdict? Scientists have discovered that, in male rats only, a specific mechanism is set up under stress in order to protect the animal: this mechanism (observable in the hippocampus , a brain area involved in memory and attention) is fueled by testosterone, the quintessential male hormone.
The researchers then attempted to deprive the male rats of testosterone and provide it to the female rats, before exposing them all to a stressful situation again. Result: Male rats began to show symptoms of depression, while female rats were found to be more resistant to the disease …
“This is the first time that the difference between the sexes in the context of depression has been explained, the researchers point out. We hope that our work will identify new strategies Therapeutic treatments to fight against this pathology. “We also hope!
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