You are what you eat: feeding neurons in nutrient regulation of behavior

In a recent paper published in Life Metabolism, Yuan et al. demonstrated that deprivation of the essential amino acid, leucine, alleviated depressive behaviors that were induced by chronic stress. Specifically, the antidepressant effects were shown to be mediated by the activation of agouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neurons, which are known for the ability to sense bodily energy status and promote energy intake, revealing a neural basis for the availability of nutrients in controlling mental behaviors.