What Is Serotonin?

Serotonin And Depression

It is thought that an individual who does not have enough receptor sites to receive serotonin can develop depression, as well as those who have a malfunction that causes serotonin to be unable to reach the receptor sites. Others have concluded depression has more association with a lack of new brain cell regeneration in an individual because serotonin helps stimulate brain cell production. Despite numerous theories about how levels of serotonin in an individual's brain can cause depression, there is no method available to measure the amount of serotonin inside of a living human brain. Blood levels of serotonin are measurable and thought to correlate with the levels of serotonin in an individual's brain, but this has not been proven. Researchers have conducted studies that revealed individuals who have depression also tend to have lower blood serotonin levels.

Get the details on the uses for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors next.