The scientists from the Center for Integrative Human Physiology at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) have found an original way to fight obesity and solve many other problems associated with lack of motivation. According to them, one can create a treatment that motivates a person for intensive labor.
The researchers have found that the introduction of the erythropoietin hormone into the mouse brain makes the animal more motivated and forces it to train harder. In addition, a specific form of erythropoietin used in these experiments does not increase the number of red blood cells (RBCs), as the usual erythropoietin hormone. This therapy has obvious advantages for a broad list of health problems, ranging from Alzheimer’s disease and obesity to mental disorders, in which physical activity improves the patient’s condition.
According to the co-author of the study, Max Gassmann, it was the first time that the scientists were able to increase the motivation to act using erythropoietin. Most likely, erythropoietin has a general effect on the mood and can be used to treat patients suffering from depression and related conditions. According to Swiss scientists, even if one can not create a “pill against obesity,” it is possible to make a “pill for motivation.” These pills will make gyms as attractive as a fast food restaurant.
