Mitochondria and the economy of stress (mal)adaptation.

摘要: Stress-associated diseases, like depression have a life time prevalence of up to 20%, and approximately 18.4 million people in Europe suffer from depression. Despite decades research, we still do not understand completely this complex brain disease. Increasing body correlative evidence implicates mitochondria the aetiology depression, but fundamental question how suboptimal mitochondrial function causes remains be answered. Here propose that balance between cost adaptation our ever changing environment (stress) available energy (mitochondrial function) is crucial for mental health. More specifically, stress activates brain, changes its structure (neuronal plasticity). This comes at metabolic primarily met by produced mitochondria. Individuals with optimal could meet critical demands stress-induced neuronal-plasticity, thus are relatively low risk In contrast, individuals stress-associated depletion brain's resources ultimately compromise neuronal plasticity in-time render an individual vulnerable Naturally, does imply all patients or depressed underlying pathology. It, however, pathogenic subgroup If so, will only profound effect on understanding therapy counselling, also discussed.