ABSTRACT
Understanding the neuropathophysiology of depression helps in understanding the nutrition-depression connection. Depression has biological underpinnings that medical
research has been unraveling in the past few decades, in addition to its psychosocial bases. Several neurotransmitters and brain regions are implicated in mood regulation and control of emotional behavior. The noradrenergic and serotonergic systems are the major ones associated with depression, while other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, gamma acetyl butyric acid (GABA), glutamate, glycine, and neuroactive peptides, may also be implicated. Involvement of the hypothalamus, the basal ganglia, and the limbic system in depression is supported by biological research and symptoms of mood disorders. The neurobiogenic inputs to these structures play a significant role in mood regulation and the pathogenesis of depression.1
