New brain network discovery could revolutionize depression diagnosis

New brain network discovery could revolutionize depression diagnosis

In a comprehensive Genomic Press Commentary published today, researchers have identified what could be the first reliable biomarker for depression risk, potentially transforming how this devastating condition is identified and treated.

Salience Network Expansion May Be A Reliable Biomarker for Depression

A newly identified biomarker—an enlarged salience network in the brain—could dramatically change how depression is detected and treated. This network, responsible for regulating attention and switching between mental states, was found to be consistently larger in people with depression, regardless of symptom severity or treatment history.

For decades, scientists searching for the root cause of depression have mostly focused on neurons and their chemical signals. But a recent study in Cell points to a new role for astrocytes.

According to several recent studies, the active substance contained in the lyahuasca would significantly reduce the symptoms of depression. An emblematic discovery of renewed interest in psychotropics around the world.