Work

Bidirectional mechanism of comorbidity of depression and insomnia based on synaptic plasticity.

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Insomnia is one of the most common accompanying symptoms of depression, with both sharing highly overlapping molecular pathways. The same pathological changes can trigger comorbidity of insomnia and depression, which further forms a vicious cycle with the involvement of more mechanisms and disease progression. Thus, understanding the potential interaction mechanisms between insomnia and depression is critical for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Comorbidity genetic factors, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, along with circadian rhythms of cortisol and the brain reward mechanism, are important ways in contributing to the comorbidity occurrence and development. However, owing to lack of pertinent investigational data, intricate molecular mechanisms necessitate further elaboration. Synaptic plasticity is a solid foundation for neural homeostasis. Pathological alterations of depression and insomnia may perturb the production and release of neurotransmitter, dendritic spine remodeling and elimination, which converges and reflects in aberrant synaptic dynamics. Hence, the introduction of synaptic plasticity research route and the construction of a comprehensive model of depression and insomnia comorbidity can provide new ideas for clinical depression insomnia comorbidity treatment plans.

Source: PubMed

DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.230082

Authors: Fanhao Meng, Long Wang

Institutions: Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Sleep and related disorders

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green