Reduction of Brain Region Volume in Adult Depression
Based upon findings published in the journal Psychiatry Research, neuroscientists associate depression in adults with a smaller and sometimes larger sized anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) region of the brain. This phenomenon was scene with the help of neuroimaging.
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) region of the brain is involved with cognition and emotional regulation and assessing motivational information. Especially, early on in learning new tasks and problem-solving. The ACC area of the brain is connected to cognition by the way of its relationship to the prefrontal cortex and the parietal cortex. It is in these areas where learning takes place. Whereas, the emotional regulation and motivational aspects of the ACC work together with other regions such as: amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus and anterior insula regions of the brain.
The new Dallas Heart study involved researchers examining data from 1803 adult participants that included a variety of data taken from a large sample of people of residence of Dallas County. Some of the data included “regional brain volume levels” of the participants through imaging techniques. The people had also completed a Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report. Which is a validated assessment of depressive symptoms.
The participants who routinely complained about greater levels of sadness, suicidal thoughts, feeling of sluggishness and lack of interest in events and social activities were considered depressed.
The study showed the heightened depressive symptoms were associated with a reduction in volume of the right ACC region in contrast to the left ACC region volume. The right ACC brain region involves emotional regulation, conflict resolution and aspects of optimism.
The findings of this study were a bit larger sample size than previous ones, but none the less came to similar conclusions.
According to the author of the study, E. Sherwood Brown, the Lou and Ellen McGinley Distinguished Chair in Psychiatric Research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and director of the Psychoneuroendocrine Research Program, “Cause and effect are difficult to determine in many studies. Smaller ACC volume could either be an effect of depression or a risk factor for the development of depression. Studies with longitudinal designs that follow people over time would be needed to determine whether ACC volume predicts the development of depression or occurs as a consequence of depression.”
This study sheds light of how the shapes and sizes of internal brain structures could possibly have affects on how one is able to perform and interact in the world. This idea seems to already play a determining factor with regards to our physical muscular shape and development in athletes across the globe. In the future, there may be something scientists could discover that could alter the outcomes through gene therapy, that would assist these internal brain areas to grow and thus activate more blood flow and chemical exchange to take place.
Depression is a major problem throughout the world and anything that would help scientists gain ground on tackling this worldwide problem would be a gift. But oddly for now, it seems that size does matter.
-A Balanced Brain is a Better Brain-