Study believes that depression can alter brain structure
Depression could result in changes to the structure of a key component of the brain, a study has warned.
Alterations were found in parts of the brain known as white matter, which contains fibre tracts that enable brain cells to communicate with one another by electrical signals.
White matter is a key component of the brain’s wiring and its disruption has been linked to problems with emotion processing and thinking skills, researchers said.
The study of more than 3,000 people – the largest of its type to date – sheds light on the biology of depression and could help in the search for better diagnosis and treatment.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the UK used a cutting-edge technique known as diffusion tensor imaging to map the structure of white matter.
A quality of the matter – known as white matter integrity – was reduced in people who reported symptoms indicative of depression. The same changes were not seen in people who were unaffected.
Depression is the world s leading cause of disability.
Symptoms include low mood, exhaustion and feelings of emptiness, researchers said.
Participants were drawn from UK Biobank, a national research resource with health data available from 500,000 volunteers.
“This study uses data from the largest …read more
