Part of Brain Network Much Bigger In People With Depression, Scientists Find

People with depression have a significantly larger brain network called the frontostriatal salience network, 73% larger than in healthy individuals. This expansion reduces the size of neighboring brain networks. The size of this network remains consistent over time and with treatment. The expansion is present in children who later develop depression and adults with late-onset depression. The enlarged network may be a risk factor for developing depression, possibly due to genetic or environmental factors. This finding could aid in identifying individuals at risk of depression and personalizing treatments. Brain signals within the network become less synchronized with certain depression symptoms and the severity of future symptoms. While the implications are still being explored, the researchers believe their findings could lead to personalized treatments for depression.