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Posts Tagged ‘exercise’

Intronic rs833070 / rs2146323 variants in VEGF demonstrate link to hippocampal size to reinforce role in rehabilitation, resilience and medication response

Posted in Hippocampus, VEGF, tagged , , on July 2, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Vascular endothelial growth factor AImage via Wikipedia The mitogenic activities of the vascular endothelial growth factor protein family are well researched. A number of findings have linked this gene to learning and memory and hippocampal-dependent response to antidepressant medication. Indeed, its reasonable to expect that a mitogen such as VEGF would regulate hippocampal cell division and the accompanying benefits of new brain cells. Using high resolution structural MRI, Blumberg and team report evidence for such in their paper, “Influence of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Variation on Human Hippocampus Morphology“. Individuals with the CC genotype at rs833070 and rs2146323 – located in the intron of the VEGF-A gene displayed smaller hippocampal volumes than T-allele and A-allele carriers, respectively. These 2 snps lie in a haplotype block with rs833068 which was assayed in my 23andMe profile – indicating that I happen to carry the TT genotype at rs833070 giving me slightly larger, more neurogenic & resilient hippocampus – I suppose. Now, if I could just figure out a way to put it to good use !

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Sweatin’ to the oldies, VGF-style

Posted in Hippocampus, VGF, tagged , , , on December 18, 2007| Leave a Comment »

Richard Simmons. Cropped from a photo by Del F...Image via Wikipedia The Wall Street Journal just ran a piece on the growing use of electro-convulsive (“shock”) therapy in elderly patients suffering from severe depression. While the clinical evidence may show this approach is effective – albeit scary – it is notable that another study published on the same day by Hunsberger et al., entitled, “Antidepressant actions of the exercise-regulated gene VGF ” (DOI). This paper reveals that a number of genes possessing antidepressant-like properties are induced by exercise. Yes, good old fashioned walkin’ and sweatin’. A few clinical trials have shown that, in older people especially, exercise is just as effective as anti-depressant medications. Furthermore, exercise seems to increase neurogenesis in the hippocampus in a manner that is parallel to anti-depressants. One of the genes induced by exercise, a growth factor named VGF, produces anti-depressant responses when administered into the mouse brain, while +/- hemizygous VGF animals show increased physiological and behavioral signs of stress. The authors point to the role of structural synaptic changes in long-term relief of depression, rather than short term increases in serotonin, but -ironically – note that VGF would be a great candidate for drug development. Hmmm, seems like I’ll skip the meds and the electrodes, and get to sweatin’ with a Richard Simmons video.*

*For the record, I do not currently own a Richard Simmons video.

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