Posted on 05/17/2005 6:16:54 AM PDT by pissant
Hormonal changes may actually alter the chemical balance in the brain and trigger some of the mood swings associated with a woman's monthly menstrual cycle, according to a new study.
The study suggests that cells in a brain region called the hippocampus generate different types of receptors for the brain chemical GABA during various phases of the menstrual cycle. These changes may affect a woman's susceptibility to anxiety, depression, and seizures.
Both estrogen and progesterone have effects on nerve cell activation, but the mechanism behind changes in seizure activity and increased anxiety are unknown, write the researchers.
They say their study may offer a new molecular basis for the severe anxiety and depression some women experience in the week or so before their period, known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder -- PMDD. This may also explain why many women with epilepsy suffer more seizures during this time.
The results of the study appear in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
Previous studies have shown that 78 percent of epileptic women have more seizures before menstruation occurs. Seizures in women with epilepsy that are triggered by hormonal changes are called catamenial seizures. This occurs during a part of their menstrual cycle when the levels of the hormone progesterone are low.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Boy howdy. I coulda told them that!
NO KIDDING! Whoda thunkit?
>>Menstrual Cycle May Alter Brain Chemistry<<
MAY!?!?!
(pass me the chocolate and no one gets hurt)
Gee. Ya think?
NOT Breaking news to men for sure.....
LOL.
expertise PING
Somebody paid for this study to tell us something we already knew?
Well, just DUH...
Menstrual Cycle? Is that a new model of motorcycle they are coming out with? Take some doing to beat a Harley in sales.
Hell, I could have told them that for less than half the money spent.
This is news?
Like, DUH!
Why is it news that different hormone levels affect the brain (as well as other body systems) in different ways? That's what hormones do ... they convey information to various parts of the body to adjust the functions.
Could explain what happened to Arianna Huffington's husband, Michael.
How else could this guy just wake up and say ... "I'm queer, and I'm outta here!"
Mercifully for me, that part of my life is OVER! :)
Proof that aliens are now posing as human scientists. The "results" have been common knowledge to earth beings since the beginning of time.
I've been a test subject in my wife's PMS lab for years.
If I find out that one penny of my taxes went to this "Study" I'm really going to be po'd. I could have told 'them' this for free.
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