Scientists uncover new clue about depression: What happens in the brain?

Depression may slow the process of generating new neurons in the brain. Scientists at Columbia University have found that changes occurring in the hippocampus may be associated with depression, TodayPress TV reports.

The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Scientists examined samples of hippocampal tissue taken from 30 people. Eleven of them had died with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. During the study, the gene activity of approximately 500,000 cell nuclei was analyzed.

The researchers found that people with depression had more inactive stem cells and fewer young cells that develop into mature neurons. This suggests that neurogenesis — the process by which new nerve cells are generated in adults — may be impaired.

The researchers believe that a reduction in the number of new neurons in the hippocampus could affect a person’s ability to distinguish past experiences from current events. As a result, negative memories and expectations may have a greater influence on how new situations are perceived.

The study also identified changes related to serotonin and glutamate signaling, the stress response, inflammation and cellular metabolism.

However, the scientists emphasize that the study does not prove that reduced neurogenesis directly causes depression. They note that depression may be associated with various biological mechanisms.

The researchers believe that restoring the hippocampus’s ability to generate new neurons could potentially become one of the treatment approaches in the future. However, further research and clinical trials involving humans are required.

Turkan Iskandarli