Terra X: Harald Lesch and the Fight Against Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders worldwide. In Germany alone, nearly 9.5 million people are affected. What’s particularly alarming is that the numbers are rising rapidly among children and adolescents as well. Yet we still don’t know enough about it. For example: What happens in the brain during depression?

A German researcher, neuroscientist Prof. Olivia Masseck, is now getting to the bottom of the causes of this disorder. She is observing the processes in the brains of mice—live. The focus is primarily on the processes involving the so-called “happiness hormone” serotonin. For a long time, serotonin was considered the key to combating depression. Today we know: The matter is much more complex.
Can psychedelic substances stimulate the brain?

Psychedelic substances like psilocybin—known from “magic mushrooms”—are now being researched for therapeutic purposes. The idea is to stimulate the brain and break it out of its rigidity. This is because a lack of brain plasticity—that is, the brain’s ability to change its structure and function—is suspected to be a cause of depression. This approach could offer a glimmer of hope, particularly for severe and treatment-resistant cases. What new insights does Germany’s largest psilocybin study provide?

And what about the youngest patients? So far, only one medication for depression has been approved for them in Germany. The problem is that we know too little about the nature and causes of the illness. One thing is certain: the more we learn about it, the better we can help children and adolescents in particular and take targeted action.