MRI reveals functional brain alterations associated with depression

Researchers have found that MRI reveals functional brain alterations that are associated with major depression, according to a study published February 19 in JAMA Network Open. The study results could help clinicians better care for depressed patients, wrote a team led by Xinyi Wang of Southeast University, Nanjing, China. "[Major] depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with reduced quality of life and increased risk of suicide and self-wounding," Wang and colleagues noted. "Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression is a crucial aspect of developing improved therapeutic options and minimizing adverse outcomes." Previous research using functional and structural MR imaging has explored the neurobiological mechanisms of depression and has noted depression-related alterations, such as hippocampal volume reductions and increased amygdala activity during emotional tasks. But it's still unclear "how far these alterations persist and whether prior exposure to depression affects brain function and structure later in life," the group wrote. The study included 20,484 individuals with lifetime depression (61.7% of whom were women) and 25,462 healthy controls (55.3% of whom were men). The team took this data from a UK Biobank cohort enrolled between January 2014 and December 2018; all study participants underwent brain MR imaging. In the group with depression, the condition was evaluated by the following criteria: Seeking help for the condition Self-reporte...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Subspecialties Neuroradiology Source Type: news