In people predisposed to an alteration “downwards” of dopamine, the popular anti -cobesity drugs would be connected to the risk of depression.
While they continue to emerge possible collateral benefits of the administration of GLP-1 agonist drugs (the class of drugs to which the traffic light belongs) in addition to the control of diabetes and weight loss, the suspicion is suspected that in some people these medicines can contribute to raise the risk of depression.
A study published on Current Neuropharmacology It suggests that, in patients genetically predisposed to a form of dopamine discomfort, these medicines can induce depressive symptoms, contributing to diagnosis of depression and the risk of suicidal ideation.
Hunger switches. Drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy imitate the action of the GLP-1 hormone (Glucagon-like Peptide 1), in charge of stimulating the production of insulin and inhibiting that of glucagon (another hormone that increases the level of sugar in the blood) when the blood sugar is high. They help to lower the level of sugar in the blood and to get to the brain before The sense of satietyturning off that constant hunger that is felt during the diets and that makes the balance need to skim upwards.
The role of dopamine. The lower sense of urgency felt by the patients who use these drugs also compared to other habits who have no to do with food, such as smoking or drinking alcohol, has also led to investigate another effect of the injectable anti-diabetics. Namely their ability to regulate the availability, in the brain, of dopamineneurotransmitter implicated in the mechanisms of pleasure and reward that makes an activity attractive (whether it is smoking, the intake of chocolate or drugs) and that makes us want to continue. The detection of these effects is for the moment anecdotal and waiting to be verified with rigorous studies.
Excessive reduction. In the new study, conducted between the United States, Iran, Brazil and Israel, it has been hypothesized that this negative regulation of dopamine reporting – the same that contributes to mitigating in patients taking these drugs the desire for alcohol or drugs – may not act favorably in all patients. In particular, it would have a negative effect in people who, for genetic factors, are brought to HypodopaminergiaMeaning what to a reduced dopamine activity in the Mesocortic path of the cerebral cortex, an important way for the regulation of mood.
An aspect to be explored. The study has identified associations between the receptors who bind to the Glp-1 agonists and some genes involved in the regulation of mood and in the streets of the reward, such as DRD3, BDNF, and Creb1.
The hypothesis is that, if drugs such as traffic lights can have beneficial effects on people with excess dopaminic activity (hyperdopaminergia), their chronic use could instead Get depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in those who have reduced dopaminic activity. An idea on which other studies have investigated, so far with non -uniform results.
The European Agency for Medicines (EMA) has already started a review of the studies on the agonists of GLP1 following reports of adverse psychiatric events.
Maximum caution. Given the benefits for the health of the Glp-1 agonist drugs in a world where obesity is increasingly widespread, and considered the positive effects of these medicines on diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and addictions, the invitation of the authors of the study is to consider with extreme seriousness and prudence the effect of these active ingredients on the mood, To avoid possible future waves of depressive phenomena. A prudential way could be predicted personalized genetic tests to evaluate the dopamine function and the risk profile in patients who are going to use Ozempic or the like for long periods.
