• Question: Ok, so endorfins help make us happy. Then surely if one was to transfer endorfins from one person to a second person, then would it make the second person happier?

    Asked by dizzyg12 to Susan, Simon, Rachel, Lou on 12 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Rachel Dakin

      Rachel Dakin answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Endorphins do give us a feeling of well being they can also act as pain relief. The word itself tells us about them end = endogenous (which means they come from within the body) orphin = morphine (a drug that is used for pain relief and can give people a happy feeling).
      I really like your lateral thinking, if we have something good then why not give it to someone else. I don’t know the exact science without researching it but I’m guessing there are a few reasons it wouldn’t work easily. Firstly endorphins work in the brain. It can be hard to get drugs to the brain because they have to cross the blood brain barrier – this might be true of endorphins. You can inject things directly to the brain but obviously that is a very risky procedure. The effects of endorphins are pretty short term so a brain injection is a bit much for such a short effect!
      Endorphins may also be broken down by the body quickly. All drugs, like food, are broken down inside the body – some quicker than others. Natural/biological substances are likely to be broken down very quickly so they might not be any use by the time they get to the brain.
      How about combining your idea with my research. Maybe we could put the gene that makes the endorphin in a virus. The virus could take it to the brain, pass on the gene and it would start making the endorphin : )

    • Photo: Simon Langley-Evans

      Simon Langley-Evans answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Rachel has given a really good answer there. Getting anything to work in the brain is always a big challenge. I think that it is probably better to try and find out what causes people to produce endorphins naturally and then try and encourage that behaviour in people who would need that extra boost.

      For many people taking part in exercise is a trigger for endorphin release and that is why a lot of people enjoy doing things like running (my idea of hell to be honest). If we could get more people doing exercise then their own natural release might increase mood and it would be good for their health in other ways. Doctors already suggest this for people who are feeling depressed- exercise has a positive effect on mood.

      Some people say that chocolate makes us produce endorphins too, and that is why it makes us feel good. Sadly this is not true and the pleasure is just because it tastes good.

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