The Impact of Depression on the Brain: Neurological Changes and Effects

Depression is a mood disorder that affects how we think, feel and behave. Studies have shown that depression isn’t just an emotional disorder: it can also have a range of physical effects, particularly on the brain.

Neurological changes and effects can happen during depression. Medmate explains the impact of depression on the brain, and how we can help you get the right treatment for depression.

Impact on neurotransmitters

Depression can have an impact on neurotransmitter function. For example, in people with depression, mood regulating neurotransmitters often don’t function normally; their signal is depleted or disrupted, limiting the transmission of important chemicals such as serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine which are key for mood regulation and happiness.

Potential brain shrinkage/enlargement

Some studies have shown that it’s possible for parts of the brain to shrink and enlarge during depression. While researchers debate which sections of the brain can be physically affected by depression, the following parts have been shown to be impacted:

Hippocampus

Depression can cause the hippocampus to shrink. This part of the brain has a major role in learning and memory, which can be affected during depression. Depression causes the hippocampus to raise its cortisol levels, impeding the development of neurons in the brain – this can cause the hippocampus to shrink, causing memory and learning ability to decline.

Thalamus

According to a study by Oxford University, neuroimaging findings have converged on thalamic involvement in macroscopic structural abnormalities in depression. In other words, depression is linked with structural changes, such as shrinking, in the thalamus. Your thalamus is the brain’s information relay station, and all senses (apart from smell) are processed in the thalamus before being sent to the cerebral cortex.

Amygdala

Depression can also have a physical affect in the amygdala, the part of your brain that helps regulate emotion and memory. These physical effects are often attributed to a loss of interest in hobbies and a dysfunction in perceiving emotions.

Prefrontal cortices

Prefrontal cortices are the brain’s control centre for cognitive functions, controlling attention, impulse management and emotional reactions. Depending on the severity of the depression, prefrontal cortices can shrink when depression occurs. This can reduce one’s attention span and can result in a decline of adequate emotional regulation.

How to manage depression and its effects on the brain

While depression can have an effect on the brain, these effects are reversible thanks to the treatment methods available for depression today. Getting treated may involve therapy and medication, both of which are proven to treat depression’s effects on the brain.

If you or a loved one is suffering from depression, contact Medmate for a telehealth assessment today. Medmate is Australia’s specialist telehealth provider, helping Australians take steps to treat depression, anxiety and a range of other mental illnesses. Our empathetic clinicians and online psychologists are with you every step of the way.

Book in for a consult today and begin the road to feeling better.