“ We were excited to find that a naturallyoccurring immune marker could act almost like a builtin protective factor against some of the most disabling consequences of brain injury.”
Blood Protein Linked to Lower Risk of Depression and PTSD After Traumatic Brain Injury
“ We were excited to find that a naturallyoccurring immune marker could act almost like a builtin protective factor against some of the most disabling consequences of brain injury.”
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Every year, an estimated 20 million people worldwide sustain a concussion or other traumatic brain injury( TBI), which leads to a two- to four-fold increase in the risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder( PTSD). Yet not everyone who experiences a TBI goes on to develop psychiatric symptoms.
Now, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System have identified an antibody( immune system protein) that could make people more resilient to these conditions. They found that active-duty U. S. Marines with higher levels of the naturally-occurring anti-NMDAR1 antibody had a significantly lower risk of developing depression and PTSD symptoms following a TBI than those with lower levels of the antibody.
Anti-NMDAR1 targets NMDA receptors, key proteins responsible for storing new information and forming memories in the brain. The antibody is known to be involved in a rare brain disease called anti-NMDAR encephalitis, leading to memory deficits and neurological distress among other symptoms. However, the study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, provides evidence that natural anti-NMDAR1 may act differently and serve a protective role in the brain.
The researchers analyzed blood samples and clinical psychiatric assessments collected from 1,025 Marines before and after a seven-month combat deployment to Afghanistan between 2011 and 2013. They found:
• Among participants with a lifetime history of TBI, those in the top quarter for natural anti-NMDAR1 antibody levels had about