The statistics confirm it: depression is a disease that affects twice as many women as men, especially after the age of 55 – the health authorities estimate that 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 thorny 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 the 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 in a stressful situation in order to protect the animal: this mechanism (observable in the hippocampus , a brain area involved in memory and attention) is powered by testosterone, the male hormone par excellence.
The researchers then attempted to deprive the male rats of testosterone and supply it to the female rats, before exposing them all to a stressful situation again. Result: The male rats began to show symptoms of depression, while the female rats proved to be more resistant to the disease…
“This is the first time that the difference between the sexes has been explained in the context of depression, underline the researchers. We hope that our work will make it possible to identify new strate therapeutic strategies to fight against this pathology.” We hope too!
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