J
James Michael H
Guest
Seasonal Depression: Two Peaks: Winter and Summer: Low DHEA
Copyright 2004, James Michael Howard, Fayetteville,
Arkansas, U.S.A.
In 1985, I first suggested depression may result from low
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This has since been
supported. I have just recently had the need to explain why
infection rates increase in winter and in summer. I also
first suggested that HIV infection is due to low DHEA in
1985. Subsequently, I decided that low DHEA should also
result in increased infection rates from viruses and other
agents so I examined the possibility of low DHEA in winter.
I found a direct connection (below). A new report that
"Women [are] more susceptible to HPV [human papilloma virus]
during summer" points out that this
reported this finding at the American Association for Cancer
Research meeting in Orlando. I was also able to explain how
this occurs as low DHEA (below).
The same mechanism, low DHEA, that results in two peaks of
infection rates also may explain two peaks of depression.
Now, it is known that testosterone decreases the
effectiveness of the immune system while DHEA increases the
effectiveness of the immune system. Testosterone in people
increases in the autumn and winter. DHEA sulfate is also
higher in the autumn and spring. I suggest the reason is
that increased testosterone of autumn and winter reduces
production of DHEA from DHEA sulfate. This may be the reason
that infections, such as influenza, increase in the winter
and why depression is higher in the winter.
It is my hypothesis that the pineal hormone, melatonin,
interacts with DHEA to control, what I call, the "melatonin
- DHEA cycle." Also, in 1985, I suggested this cycle
controls sleep so it is involved in circadian rhythms. It is
known that DHEA is involved in the control of melatonin
production and melatonin is involved in DHEA production.
Melatonin production decreases during times of strong
sunlight. If melatonin production is reduced by strong
sunlight which occurs in the summer, then DHEA will be
reduced. If DHEA is reduced, I suggest this will precipitate
depression in people vulnerable to depression.
A single mechanism may be involved in all depression: low
DHEA. The same mechanism may affect people when DHEA is
seasonally low, such as winter and summer.
James Michael Howard www.anthropogeny.com
Copyright 2004, James Michael Howard, Fayetteville,
Arkansas, U.S.A.
In 1985, I first suggested depression may result from low
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This has since been
supported. I have just recently had the need to explain why
infection rates increase in winter and in summer. I also
first suggested that HIV infection is due to low DHEA in
1985. Subsequently, I decided that low DHEA should also
result in increased infection rates from viruses and other
agents so I examined the possibility of low DHEA in winter.
I found a direct connection (below). A new report that
"Women [are] more susceptible to HPV [human papilloma virus]
during summer" points out that this
reported this finding at the American Association for Cancer
Research meeting in Orlando. I was also able to explain how
this occurs as low DHEA (below).
The same mechanism, low DHEA, that results in two peaks of
infection rates also may explain two peaks of depression.
Now, it is known that testosterone decreases the
effectiveness of the immune system while DHEA increases the
effectiveness of the immune system. Testosterone in people
increases in the autumn and winter. DHEA sulfate is also
higher in the autumn and spring. I suggest the reason is
that increased testosterone of autumn and winter reduces
production of DHEA from DHEA sulfate. This may be the reason
that infections, such as influenza, increase in the winter
and why depression is higher in the winter.
It is my hypothesis that the pineal hormone, melatonin,
interacts with DHEA to control, what I call, the "melatonin
- DHEA cycle." Also, in 1985, I suggested this cycle
controls sleep so it is involved in circadian rhythms. It is
known that DHEA is involved in the control of melatonin
production and melatonin is involved in DHEA production.
Melatonin production decreases during times of strong
sunlight. If melatonin production is reduced by strong
sunlight which occurs in the summer, then DHEA will be
reduced. If DHEA is reduced, I suggest this will precipitate
depression in people vulnerable to depression.
A single mechanism may be involved in all depression: low
DHEA. The same mechanism may affect people when DHEA is
seasonally low, such as winter and summer.
James Michael Howard www.anthropogeny.com