Brain Networks Hyper-Connected in Young Adults with Depression

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) have discovered that young adults who previously experienced depression have hyper-connected emotional and cognitive networks in their brains. The researchers used fMRI to examine the brain connectivity of young adults ages 18 to 23, who had previously experienced depression, in addition to 23 healthy participants. “We wanted to see if the individuals who have had depression during their adolescence were different from their healthy peers,” said the study’s lead author. The researchers found many regions that are “hyper-connected — or talking to each other a little too much — among those who have a history of depression,” added the author. These hyper-connected brain networks were related to rumination, with individuals thinking about a problem over and over without actively trying to come up with a solution. The researchers also looked at cognitive control, which is a predictor of response to treatment and also relapse of illness. The transition to adulthood, a time when the brain networks are nearly mature, may be a critical window for any intervention. To read more about this study, click here.