Eine einzige 30-minütige körperliche Aktivität kann sowohl bei Menschen als auch bei Mäusen sofortige antidepressive Wirkungen hervorrufen, wobei ein von Fettzellen freigesetztes Hormon die Plastizität des Gehirns verändert, um die Stimmung zu verbessern. Körperliche Bewegung kann die Entwicklung einer Depression wirksam verhindern.

I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03317-1

From the linked article:

Scientists identify a fat-derived hormone that drives the mood benefits of exercise

A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry provides evidence that **a single thirty-minute session of physical activity can produce immediate antidepressant effects in both humans and mice**. The research identifies a specific biological pathway **involving a hormone released by fat cells that alters brain plasticity to improve mood**. These findings suggest that short-term exercise could serve as an accessible intervention for alleviating depressive symptoms.

This study provides clinical evidence for the effectiveness of a single session of exercise in alleviating depressive symptoms. Additionally, mechanistic support from animal studies demonstrates that a single bout of exercise rapidly increases levels of the adipocyte-secreted hormone adiponectin, which activates neural activity and promotes new spine formation in the prefrontal cortex, ultimately leading to a rapid response.

The findings suggest that a single bout of exercise lasting 30 minutes at moderate intensity is effective in alleviating depressive mood. **Physical exercise is one of the most accessible and low-cost interventions for immediately reducing depressive symptoms, and it may also be effective in preventing the development of depression**.

I can only confirm this for myself. I had severe depression and up till the time where I was dialed in on the right antidepressant, the only thing I could do to lessen the thoughts and anxiety was going outside and run. At that time I was running everyday for at least 45 minutes and that relieved the symptoms at least a bit till the end of the day.