23 Jun Botox, Depression, and Acetylcholine

Fact: Botox works by modulating acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.

First off, what is acetylcholine?

• Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter (which carries information from one neuron to another or from neuron to muscle)
• Acetylcholine is released from a nerve and tells the targeted muscles to contract.
• Botox injections stop the release of acetylcholine (which prevents the muscles from contracting)
• When injected in facial areas close to the facial nerves, Botox stops face muscles from contracting, which is what makes the wrinkles seem to disappear.

Okay, but how does this relate to depression?

The release of acetylcholine does not just affect muscle contractions; it may also play a role in depression. When acetylcholine is blocked by Botox, it then accumulates in the nerve and tells the brain to make some changes and stop producing so much acetylcholine. This response is hypothesized to lead to an antidepressant effect.