08/19/2026
BDNF might be the most important protein you’ve never heard of.
For decades we explained antidepressants with the “chemical imbalance” story. That’s inaccurate. Depression is linked to lower levels of BDNF, a protein that helps brain cells survive and form new connections. Antidepressants raise it, and that rise tracks with symptom improvement.
In other words, treatment may work by restoring your brain’s ability to change. Which is also why sleep, movement, and therapy aren’t just “extras.” They support the same biology.
Save this one for the next time someone tells you depression is all in your head. (Technically true, but not the way they mean it.)
👩🏻⚕️I’m a board-certified psychiatrist offering integrative, evidence-based mental health education and glimpses of private practice life.
🔗 To learn more about me & my practice, go to SimonePsych.com. Link in bio.
📍South Bay | Los Angeles | California
Dr. Agnes K. Simone | Board-Certified Psychiatrist
❌Education only, not medical advice