January 22, 2008

Medication that can cure loneliness

Researchers at the University of Illinois have been working on how being isolated from people can bring on stress and memory loss, this is said to be due to an enzyme that helps the brain, without this the brain triggers feeling of being lonely.

But if this enzyme could be replaced somehow the reverse effect could happen, this is especially useful for people who do jobs that mean they are alone for long periods of time.

The researchers set up an experiment where mice were put into isolation and after a time the mice were showing signs of the reduction of a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone, it would seem that all that is needed it is to either find a way of boosting the allopregnanolone, either by direct or indirect measures. This is the next step.

Source [io9]