Scientists uncover 3 key brain pathways linked to lasting depression relief
Mount Sinai researchers identified three specific white matter pathways in the brain that, when stimulated, lead to lasting relief for treatment-resistant depression. The study advocates for connectome-based targeting to improve deep brain stimulation outcomes.
Why it matters
Refining the precision of deep brain stimulation could significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from severe, treatment-resistant mental health conditions.
Scientists at Mount Sinai have identified three important brain connections associated with long-term improvement in patients receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe depression that has not responded to conventional treatments. The discovery could help researchers make this experimental therapy more precise and effective.
Published October 1 in the American Journal of Psychiatry , the research examined the largest group of patients assembled across multiple independent cohorts to date who had received subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation (SCC DBS) for treatment-resistant depression.
The researchers found that lasting improvements were consistently associated with electrical stimulation reaching three specific white matter pathways: the cingulum bundle, forceps minor, and medial uncinate fasciculus/ventral amygdalofugal pathways.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in