Is depression an infectious disease? | Turhan Canli | TEDxSBU

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Despite 60 years of research, major depression is as vexing as ever. Clinical care is a matter of trial-and-error and research still has not identified the causal mechanisms in the brain. Enter the mind of Turhan Canli, who proposes a radical reconceptualization of depression that changes the way we think about its causes, genetics, and treatment approaches.

Dr. Canli’s primary research interests cover the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and molecular biology. Current work in Dr. Canli’s laboratory focuses on gene-environment interactions, specifically the molecular genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate gene expression across the human genome. This general approach is applied to studies of individual differences in social stress reactivity, traits, and emotional behavior. Research in Dr. Canli’s laboratory covers all levels of analysis: self-report, behavioral, neural, and cellular/molecular. Most work is conducted in humans, but recent projects involve animal models and cell culture assays of gene regulation. Behavioral studies are conducted in the Department of Psychology. Neuroimaging studies are conducted in the SCAN (Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience) Center. Molecular (epi-) genetic studies are conducted in Dr. Canli’s lab in the Center for Molecular Medicine and the Psychology Department, the Genomics Core Facility, and the Proteomics Core Facility. Dr. Canli received a Ph.D. is in psychobiology (Yale University ’93), with postdoctoral training in behavioral, cognitive and affective neuroscience (Yale University’93-’95; Stanford University’95-2001), and later sabbatical training in molecular biology.

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[gicikmicik]

I had him as a professor for neuroethology. Very challenging course, taught really well. One of the best in the field.

[sburns]

I have been researching depression and autoimmune diseases for the past 2.5 years and this guy is spot on. He asks the most important question that medical doctors are not taught to ask. WHY?

Most conversations go like this:

You aren't feeling well:
Doctor: "You are depressed it is caused by low serotonin"
You ask "ok but why is it low, what caused it?"
The doctors answer: "we really don't know, there is an aspect of it being hereditary and stress related, but we can give you medicine for the depression"

Then it stops there, when in fact the doctor should ask about infections or travel history to areas with epidemics and then possibly prophylactically treat that possible underlying illness. If doctors fail to do this they are endangering their patients who would have a disease eating them alive as their depressive symptoms are treated.

[Baddogphil]

Very interesting hypothesis- it has been clearly demonstrated that stress and low mood have negative effects on the immune system, so pathogens that would normally be suppressed when someone is emotionally healthy could begin to multiply and cause damaging infections when someone is subject to extreme stress, further weakening them and reducing their resilience. It makes sense that this diminished resilience would amplify the effect of any stressors an individual is undergoing, potentially leading to the loss of the ability to cope with daily life, which is one of the main symptoms of major depression.

[cmestra]

Excellent presentation delivery, great flow and logic! This is definitely a hot topic for me. Thanks!

[MikeUIibarri]

I've been taking turmeric as an anti-inflammatory agent, which worked great for me.
An added bonus has been my elevated moods.
Just my experience...

[cyndijoylee]

That's an awesome presentation. As someone who has had depression drug resistant depression for many years....I am encouraged to see finally another approach to it. Thank you Turhan Canil. If you need a Guini pig

[mandopando]

depression is going to be the 3rd biggest in disability in the world, next to heart disease and diabetes. Yet all of us go through it at one point. -_- depression is very very bad, when it becomes a disorder, and it's getting harder to treat for some reason 

[survivallaar]

I absolutly believe depression could be caused by an immuunreaction. I have lyme disease and since that moment my mind changed. I don't like to do anything, even while it's still possible for my body. It's a fight to do something, when i should just listen to my mind i should just lay down the whole day.

[pipus]

goal of pharma industry is to have every person on the planet using their products

[vickilynn]

I think what too many overlook is the fact that our biology is primed for survival at all costs, but our consciousness makes us aware of our mortality. This is a depressing reality that is difficult to overcome for many people

[Ivuspp]

let's not settle for less, doctor! let's find a cure! God bless you!

[benelux]

I Confirm this INFO 100% by personal experience. Three heavy bacterial infections throughout my life, all three paired with distinct forms of "depression". All three times instinctively I knew that once i could clear the infection my brain chemicals would go back to normal. All three times I managed to achieve just that. (one of them was Lyme disease). "Antibiotics" (preferably natural ones) would empty mental institutions by 80%-90% in a matter of weeks. .. just my 2c.

[MsColdCanada]

When I was a child we all knew you can't catch cancer but it did run in families. Today some people understand the role of HPV and I am sure other virus strains will be found. Suicide is a greater cause of death in some age groups than is cancer. If there is a pathogens causing or assisting transmission of mood disorders it's important to investigate this avenue. Once upon a time we knew ulcers were a product of mood (stress) then the bacteria responsible was identified. Science has more to learn.

[johncurtiss]

I was depressed and had anxiety and sleeping problems, and I believe he is right. I cured my depression and anxiety. Is there any way to contact him and tell him how I did it?

[Trout]

"our genome isn't all human"
That's rather profound.

[fionacassells]

This is really interesting thank you. The link between depression and infection will continue to be substantiated, I am certain. There is already reseach developing between the disciplines of psychology, neurology and immunology. 
There is a really interesting book written some time ago, called the 'molecules of emotion' by candice pert, who researched the mind body connection, Psycho Neuro Immunology (PNI ) research is helping to open up the debate about how stress changes the physiology, (cortisol suppresses the immune response  and is always high in chronic stress)  brilliant TED talk thanks 

[theotherway]

This pairs well with the mindfulness workbook "30 Days to Reduce Depression" by Harper Daniels.

[haviersolomon]

*>>Win control over your depression and finally gain the upper hand over all your depression symptoms.Destroy Depression*

[barbiedolldreams]

Good Information and Video Thank You I totally agree

[econogate]

A diet rich in trans fats and sugar has been shown to promote inflammation, while a healthy one full of fruit, veg and oily fish helps keep it at bay. Obesity is another risk factor, probably because body fat, particularly around the belly, stores large quantities of cytokines.