Depression may cause change in communication and
thinking skills
An individual suffering from depression may
be at an increased risk of developing changes in the structure of the brain
associated with communication and thinking skills, researchers say. The
findings showed that 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, the researchers
said. Further, people with symptoms indicative of depression also had reductions
in white matter integrity — a quality of the matter, which was not seen in
people who were unaffected. “This study shows that people with depression
have changes in the white matter wiring of their brain,” said Heather Whalley,
senior research fellow at the University of Edinburgh.
Depression is the world’s leading cause of disability,
affecting around a fifth of UK adults over a lifetime. Symptoms include low
mood, exhaustion and feelings of emptiness. For the study, published
in Scientific Reports, the team analysed 3461 people using an MRI-based
neuroimaging technique to map the structure of white matter. “There is an
urgent need to provide treatment for depression and an improved understanding
of its mechanisms will give us a better chance of developing new and more
effective methods of treatment,” Whalley said. “Our next steps will be to
look at how the absence of changes in the brain relates to better protection
from distress and low mood,” he added.
25.07.2017
Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today
Will Rogers
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