Researchers gave rats stressed in a laboratory environment supplements of CoQ10 for three weeks, which resulted in significant antidepressant effects. In addition, CoQ10 supplementation was found to protect the hippocampus against oxidation and DNA damage. The researchers’ conclusion is that CoQ10 has antidepressant activity and can protect the hippocampus against DNA damage.

What is the hippocampus?

The hippocampus is a part of the brain that plays a central role in learning and memory. It is part of the limbic system, a complex of structures in the brain involved in emotion, motivation, pleasure and memory formation.

The hippocampus, which is shaped like a seahorse (hence the name, since ”hippocampus” is Latin for seahorse), is found in both hemispheres of the brain. It is particularly involved in the formation of long-term memories and in giving memories a spatial context, which helps us navigate our environment.

Damage to the hippocampus can lead to problems with memory formation and orientation. Alzheimer’s disease, an age-related disease that causes memory loss, is linked to damage and loss of neurons in the hippocampus.