Sleep Apnea linked to low serotonin levels?

[49er]

I was reading the article at this link, http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/11/0 ... ssion.html# and found this exert as part of the attempt to explain the association between sleep apnea and depression.

""Sleep apnea has also been linked to low serotonin levels, which is associated with depression.""

Well, the theory that low serotonin levels cause depression is total BS.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2 ... epression/

And the claim that sleep apnea is linked to low serotonin sounds also sounds like a bunch of BS. But just to make sure, I tried doing a google search to make sure I wasn't missing anything and didn't find any links to substantiate this claim.

Is there anything I am missing?

Thanks!

49er

[Julie]

Many people (you have to have heard this in the past) with undiagnosed apnea were diagnosed with depression for many years until referred for a sleep study and once on Cpap their depression went away... whether their serotinon levels were low because of the 'depression' or not (I doubt many had that checked out).

[49er]

Many people (you have to have heard this in the past) with undiagnosed apnea were diagnosed with depression for many years until referred for a sleep study and once on Cpap their depression went away... whether their serotinon levels were low because of the 'depression' or not (I doubt many had that checked out).

Thanks Julie, I definitely have and sorry for not making that clear. And of course, that article didn't stress that.

Anyway, I was just irked because of what sounded like BS with sleep apnea being linked to low serotonin levels.

49er

[Julie]

Interesting article tho', I hadn't really heard that serotonin was definitely no longer implicated in depression!

[library lady]

I haven't heard anything about this, but FWIW, I know several people who do rotating shift work and take melatonin when they are on night shift so they can sleep easier in the daytime. Melatonin, as I understand it, increases the serotonin levels in your body to make it easier to sleep. I occasionally take 1.5g of melatonin to combat jet lag, but I don't take it often as it tends to make it harder for me to get out of bed in the morning.

[SleepyEyes21]

I was reading the article at this link, http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/11/0 ... ssion.html# and found this exert as part of the attempt to explain the association between sleep apnea and depression.

""Sleep apnea has also been linked to low serotonin levels, which is associated with depression.""

Well, the theory that low serotonin levels cause depression is total BS.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2 ... epression/

And the claim that sleep apnea is linked to low serotonin sounds also sounds like a bunch of BS. But just to make sure, I tried doing a google search to make sure I wasn't missing anything and didn't find any links to substantiate this claim.

Is there anything I am missing?

Thanks!

49er

Hi 49er!

For the past fifteen + years, ONE of the many theories for what causes depression had been low serotonin levels in the brain; this is why some of the medications for depression (like Prozac) specifically targeted serotonin neurotransmitters. So the theory itself is not 'BS.' However, all the theories for what causes depression are just that - theories. Because (other than imaging techniques), there really is no good/ scientific way to get into someone's brain at this point in time and be able to understand what is exactly causing the depression, and better yet- resolve it. As a science, brain study is in its infancy still.

In regards to mental health and depression, brain studies are advancing and as more information is learned, new theories will be formed to replace old ones and/ or to join with previous ones so that our understanding is more complete. I think it's a fascinating field!

Imo, it wouldn't surprise me if low serotonin was linked to sleep apnea, although I haven't done any research on it yet. Yet just knowing from past study how many body systems/ organs sleep apnea can affect that one would never think of, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if serotonin levels were one of them too.

If you are looking for a reputable database, try http://scholar.google.com/

You can find a lot of peer-reviewed articles there.

[49er]

SE,

With all due respect, I stand by what I said about the theory of depression due to low Serotonin being BS. It was strictly based on drug company advertisements and was used to falsely tell patients they had a chemical imbalance and needed to be on antidepressants for life.

http://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/o ... u%3A267045

Various blog entries on the subject by the same authors:

https://www.madinamerica.com/author/leolacasse/

49er