How Depression Shrinks the Brain

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Certain brain regions in people with major depression are smaller and less dense than those of their healthy counterparts. Now, researchers have traced the genetic reasons for this shrinkage.

A series of genes linked to the function of synapses, or the gaps between brain cells crucial for cell-to-cell communication, can be controlled by a single genetic "switch" that appears to be overproduced in the brains of people with depression, a new study finds.

"We show that circuits normally involved in emotion, as well as cognition, are disrupted when this single transcription factor is activated," study researcher Ronald Duman, a professor of psychiatry at Yale University, said in a statement.

Transcription factors are proteins that help control which genetic instructions from DNA will be copied, or transcribed, as part of the process of building the body's proteins.

Shrinking brain

Brain-imaging studies, post-mortem examinations of human brains and animal studies have all found that in depression, a part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex shrinks. The neurons in this region, which is responsible for complex tasks from memory and sensory integration to the planning of actions, are also smaller and less dense in depressed people compared with healthy people. [Top 10 Stigmatized Health Disorders]

Duman and his colleagues suspected that these neuronal abnormalities would include problems with the synapses, the points where brain cells "talk" to one another. At synapses, neurons release neurotransmitters that are picked up by their neighbors, carrying signals from cell to cell at rapid speed.

The researchers conducted gene profiling on the postmortem brain tissue of both depressed and mentally healthy subjects. They found a range of genes that were significantly less active in depressed people's dorsolateral prefrontal cortexes, particularly five related to synaptic function: synapsin 1, Rab3A, calmodulin 2, Rab4B and TUBB4.

Synaptic damage

These genes are all involved in either the chemical signaling that occurs at synapses or the cellular recycling and regeneration processes that keep the synapse-system humming. All five are regulated by a single transcription factor called GATA1, which was overproduced in depressed brains.

The researchers activated GATA1 in the brains of rats and found that the factor decreased the complexity of the long, branchlike projections, or dendrites, of brain cells. These projections are the telephone lines that carry synaptic messages, integrating all the information a cell receives.

Extra GATA1 also increased depression-like behavior in the rats. For example, when given a swimming task, rats with extra GATA1 stayed immobile in the water longer, a signal of despair, than normal-GATA1 rats, the researchers report today (Aug. 12) in the journal Nature Medicine.

The researchers believe the damage could be a result of chronic stress, and they hope the findings lead to new depression treatments.

"We hope that by enhancing synaptic connections, either with novel medications or behavioral therapy, we can develop more effective antidepressant therapies," Duman said.

Thank you for posting this informative article. As someone who has suffered from chronic stress and chronic depression, I found it very interesting. I have noticed that my cognition seems to have declined over the past year or so, and I've developed sensory sensitivities which I didn't have before. I guess it could be the damage caused by depression. I'm on anti-depressants now but didn't start them until my 30s. I wonder if someone with chronic depression could avoid the damage to their brains by getting on anti-depressants much earlier, like in their teens?

While obviously there are limits as far as recovery from catastrophic injury etc. are concerned, my understanding is that a number of studies have lately shown that mammalian brain cells do continue to divide throughout the life of an individual, contrary to the previous belief that brain cells stop dividing after infancy, so while early intervention and remediation is desirable I think we need to remember that the brain is remarkably plastic and adaptable and if conditions are favorable, recoveries can and do happen to people at all life stages.

vigorous and sustained exercise kept my depression under nominal control.

interesting stuff. I think it's hard for people who've never experienced depression to understand. i was depressed for maybe a year and my ability to think coherently etc was so poor. really sucks

Sounds about right.

Ugh I think I fried my brain good. I seem to be a lot foggier than I was 5 years ago.

Hmm.. I have been feeling like my brain shrunk a bit lately.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/drmao/l ... -longevity

Loneliness and Longevity
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Right now, take a minute to think about your friends and family. Consider everything you do for one another, from sharing meals to weekend adventures to emotional support. Sure, there can be a lot of work involved, but recent studies and ancient Chinese wisdom affirm that having these loving relationships not only help us thrive, they actually add years to our lives—especially as we move past middle age. It is no wonder centenarians are beloved by their family members and friends!

Personal Connection Leads to Greater Longevity

A report recently published by the Archives of Internal Medicine says that certain levels of loneliness in people over the age of 60 can predict declines in health, longevity, and well-being, and is also associated with an increased risk of death—45 percent higher than people who do not identify themselves as lonely. And that’s not all. Lonely people in the study were much more likely to have limited physical mobility and a greater difficulty performing basic, routine tasks such as personal grooming and housekeeping.

We have long known that friends and family play an important role in our daily lives and social support system, but the findings from this report take us a step further and pinpoint self-identity and connectivity between people as the foundation of positive mental health and increased longevity. When we talk about connectivity, we mean the deep emotional and spiritual connection we feel when we mesh well with other people. This is why, Carla M. Perissinotto, the lead researcher on this study, believes in the importance of fostering deeper interpersonal connections, in both medical treatment and in our daily routines: between boss and employee, doctor and patient, or even between strangers. Simply asking how somebody is doing, and providing the space and openness to receive an answer can create a meaningful connection between people. This is part of the fuel that helps us keep going, no matter what age we are!
Connect Powerfully with Others

Here are some simple tips to help you or your loved ones cope with loneliness, and transform isolation into a positive and emotionally bountiful situation!

1. Give a hug

If you feel emotionally isolated, or just want to go the extra mile in your connections, then try giving out more hugs to your friends and family. Human touch, what I like to call real “hands on” healing, has been recognized as a powerful technique for centuries. Touch has been proven to elicit elevated production of endorphins, growth hormones, and DHEA—all of which lengthen your life span. Need another reason? Touch also lowers the levels of stress hormones that can shorten life and attack our immune system.

2. Cultivate Tolerance: Forgive and forget

Oftentimes, we forego making deep connections with people throughout the day because of shyness, presumption, or intolerance. A great tool to both expand your emotional flexibility and support your longevity is to cultivate tolerance. Tolerance increases our abilities to flow with the ups and downs of life. This way we are less affected by disappointments and traumas, and less likely become upset with other people. Being able to transform stressful or negative situations between yourself and others into positive situations with a beneficial outcome will help you roll with the punches in life and make you valuable company for the entire journey! A simple way to remember not to hold onto stress is to repeat the adage “forgive and forget,” thus moving on emotionally and developing strength of character.

You may also benefit from daily affirmations to help you build emotional strength. These Invocations for Health, Longevity and Healing a Broken Heart can help nurture and balance your vital life force.

3. Discover your passions

A negative and depressing social environment can sap the pleasures from life and create a lonely way of being. If you find yourself in a positive and nurturing situation, do everything you can to sustain it. But, if you’re in negative surroundings, take whatever steps are necessary—only you can identify them from your particular case—to develop a more life-affirming situation. An easy way to start creating a more loving and connected lifestyle is by taking some time for yourself and really getting to know what you passions are. Consider places you want to visit, your dream job or project, or what would make an ideal day for you. Make a list of these and other important projects or interests that you would like to fully explore. Assign each item a number based on its importance to you, from 1 to 5 (or however many items you list). Now think seriously about how to achieve the most important ones, and work your way down. Once you begin to support yourself and your goals, you’ll begin to feel confident, fulfilled, and ready to connect with the people that your new energy will undoubtedly bring you into contact with!

4. Add years with a pet

Most people know that having a pet companion can enrich their lives, but it turns out that pets will actually give your longevity boost, too. Pets can help lower our stress levels, decrease blood pressure, support healthy cholesterol, improve our moods, and give an extra boost to our immunity! A recent study by the Minnesota Stroke Institute found that being a cat owner could significantly decrease the chance of dying from heart disease. Pet owners have also been found to recover more speedily after surgery. Having pets around gets us to move, laugh, and reduce stress by taking a moment to be tranquil and diffuse negative emotions. Having somebody at home who is happy to see you can instantly improve the mood of anyone, especially once we’re older and might be living a more isolated lifestyle.

I hope that these tips will help you establish strong connections and find joy in life!

You can find more ways to live a long and healthy life in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle. In addition, The Natural Health Dictionary makes a great companion to your quest for longevity. It is a comprehensive guide that answers all your questions about natural remedies, healing herbs, longevity foods, vitamins, and supplements.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao




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^^^
great tips!

So that's why I feel dumb lately

I've been mildly depressed for almost one year and while I'm still as intelligent as I was before, I really can't think straight anymore. I often fabricate horrible situations in my mind which only make me feel worse. I probably do this to compensate for how guilty being depressed about absolutely nothing makes me feel.

Where did that study find that the shrinkage is caused by depression, rather than the depression being caused by the shrinkage?

good question, but i tend to agree with the latter.

I don't know enough about it to confidently guess.

Media rarely accurately reports on scientific findings, I often see conflicting analysis of studies. It seems they just want to draw readers in. Looking at actual studies on the NIH websites etc. is often boring, but I like that it's accurate.