Depression And Your Brain: What Is The Connection?
Ask someone about depression and they’ll probably walk about mood. Of course, we all know some kind of connection to the brain exists. But who knows how to explain it? There’s still so much to learn when it comes to both mental illness and the human brain. However, understanding what is known about depression and your brain is critical.
A good starting point to grasp more about the role your brain plays in the emergence of depression. From there, it is very important to be aware of how depression can change your brain. Let’s get started with these two points of discussion.
Does the Brain Cause Depression?
Discerning a cause for depression isn’t as simple as chalking things up to brain chemicals. The work to pinpoint exact causes never stops. For now, some solid research exists and points to:
Genetics and genetic vulnerability
Extreme stressors in one’s life
Certain medications
Substance abuse
Certain physical illnesses
All of this adds up to hampering your brain’s ability to regulate your mood. Something goes awry in the messaging processes between your nerve cells. Whatever this “something” is, it appears to contribute to the likelihood of people being diagnosed with depression.
How Does Depression Impact the Brain?
The changes that depression imposes on your brain are believed to fall into these two broad categories:
Size
Again, this research is ongoing but significant trends are being identified. For example, people with depression seem to experience shrinkage in parts of the brain. More specifically, they lose gray matter volume (GMV), e.g. tissue with large amounts of brain cells.
Lower GMV has been seen in areas of the brain like the thalamus, caudate nucleus, and insula. Also, the amygdala may get smaller due to depression and stress. This is where you process fear so the implications could be massive.
Two areas in which GMV loss due to depression seems most probable are:
Hippocampus: This is your memory and learning center. The hippocampus is critical in helping the brain control emotions and thus, size loss may make you more vulnerable to depression and less equipped to deal with it.
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC): When your planning and higher-level thinking are shrunk and weakened, it can contribute mightily to the development of depression. Someone with depression and PFC shrinkage can lack the cognitive skills to recognize when help is needed.
Possible outcomes of hippocampus and GMV loss include:
Loss of focus
Memory issues
Lack of motivation
Appetite and sleep fluctuations
Anxiety
Feelings of hopelessness
Reduced emotional regulation
Moving or talking more slowly
Inflammation
People with depression (especially untreated depression) display higher levels of brain inflammation. But which causes which? Research continues but either way, brain inflammation can speed up aging in your brain, reduce thinking capacity, and damage brain cells.
These changes — inflammation and GMV loss — are still being studied and it’s unclear how much they can be reversed. But, some treatment options have been shown to be promising. For example, antidepressants are thought to help the brain form new connections that can counterbalance gray matter volume loss and lower inflammation.
Therapy Has a Great Track Record for Depression
It’s widely agreed that committing to regular therapy sessions is a healthy path toward relieving depression. Particular modalities like Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) may promote neuroplasticity. What this means is that you are being taught ways to change your own brain. Such changes can enhance your ability to manage depression.
Simply put, depression is bad news for your brain but you have options. A very powerful first step is to have a conversation with an experienced mental health practitioner. I’d love to help you on this journey toward healing and recovery. Reach out to me soon for depression therapy.
