EXERCISE MIMETICS AND MYOKINES
Within the past few weeks, I published an article about the benefits of exercise for treating depression and anxiety. It was titled, “Exercise Seems to Help Everything!” It stated that “all forms of exercise alleviated depressive symptoms to a degree comparable to pharmacologic (drug) and psychologic therapies…and in all formats and parameters, can lessen depression and anxiety symptoms across all population categories.” Exercise is good for what ails you, be it physical or mental.
Now, a follow-up article explains why! Scientists have discovered a chemically mediated reaction that occurs whenever muscles contract, and the substance involved with this reaction is the key to helping depression. It is now known that when our skeletal muscles contract (are used for activities) they release Myokines into the blood stream. Myokines are produced naturally but are also produced in greater amounts by exercise mimetics, bioactive compounds that simulate the biological effects of exercise. Examples are omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, and metformin.
Myokines, then, facilitate communication between muscles and the brain. “Low levels of myokines in the brain are associated with depression and impaired quality of life.” So, exercise plus exercise mimetics increase the amount of myokines in the circulation and brain and result in the person feeling better.
According to this author, physical activity and exercise mimetics generate “competence, autonomy, and relatedness” through the effect of myokines on the brain. “If we could roll all the benefits of exercise into a pill, it would be prescribed for everyone.” It sounds like we need to add these drugs to the water just like we’ve already added statins and GLP-1 RA’s.
Reference: Scherer L. Sending Positive Signals: Could Exercise Mimetics Treat Depression? Medscape 2026 March 2.
