Could wine treat depression? | Daily Mail Online

Compounds in grape seeds significantly boost resilience in stressed mice
Around 70% of mice given the compound improve versus 40% of controls
These appear to ease inflammation and better signal transmission in the brain
Depression treatments provide temporary relief in less than 50% of sufferers
The mental health disorder affects around 16 million people every year in the US

By Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline

Published: 15:42 GMT, 6 February 2018 | Updated: 18:53 GMT, 6 February 2018

Although alcohol is considered a depressant, wine could ease the mental health condition, new research suggests.

Compounds found in grape seeds significantly improve resilience in depressed mice, a study found.

Researchers believe these compounds work by easing inflammation and improving the transmission of signals in the brain.

Past findings suggest current depression treatments provide temporary relief in less than 50 percent of sufferers.

The researchers, from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, therefore believe there is a huge unmet need for more effective therapies.

Depression affects around 16 million people every year in the US. In the UK, approximately three in every 100 people suffer.

Although alcohol is considered a depressant, wine could ease the mental health condition

DOES SINGING HELP WITH POSTNATAL DEPRESSION?

Singing helps women overcome postnatal depression, research suggested in January 2018.

New mothers who struggle with moderate-to-severe symptoms of the condition recover significantly faster if they sing in a group, a study found.

Although the study did not say why this likely occurs, previous research shows singing benefits depression sufferers by allowing them to express their emotions and aiding relaxation.

Lead researcher Dr Rosie Perkins from the Centre for Performance Science in London, said: ‘Postnatal depression is debilitating for mothers and their families, yet our research indicates that for some women something as accessible as singing with their baby could help to speed up recovery at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.’

Postnatal depression affects more than one in 10 women within a year of giving birth in the UK.

Between 11 and 20 per cent of women are affected in the US.

The researchers analysed 134 mothers during the first 40 weeks of motherhood.

The women were divided to receive either 10 weeks of a singing workshop, a creative play workshop or postnatal depression standard-of-care.

How the research was carried out

The researchers gave 12 eight-week-old mice compounds, known as polyphenols, found in grape seeds.

The animals were also given trans-resveratrol, which certain plants produce to fight off fungal infections.

These compounds were added to the mice’s drinking water.

The animals were put under stress by being exposed to aggressive mice for 10 minutes a day for 10 consecutive days. They were then separated from these rodents via a cage divider.

The study’s mice were also suspended by the tail and forced to swim.

‘An effective way to treat people with depression and anxiety’

Of the stressed mice exposed to grape compounds, 70 percent demonstrated improved social interactions, which suggests resilience.

This is compared to less than 40 percent in the control group.

Lead author Professor Giulio Maria Pasinetti said: ‘The discovery of these new, natural grape-derived polyphenol compounds targeting pathways associated with inflammation may provide an effective way to treat a subset of people with depression and anxiety, conditions that affect so many people.’

The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

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