A new study, led by Australian National University(ANU)PhD researcher Daniela Espinoza Oyarce has recently been published in The Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. The study examined the brains of more than 10,000 people to find out the effect of both conditions on brain volume.

Oyarce and her colleagues found that the brains of individuals with depression only lost brain volume, with their hippocampus area - linked to sleep appetite and movement - having shrunk. The researchers do not yet know why this occurs, but Oryace hypothesises that it could be linked to chronic stress that "creates a toxic environment" in the brain and is harmful to brain cell.

Interestingly, however, the research team discovered that the brains of people with both anxiety and depression had increases in brain volume, particularly in an area called the amygdala. While treatments exists for both depression and anxiety, Orayce believes a more complex understanding of the brain is required, especially for individuals who have been treatment resistant (i.e. have not improved with different types of pharmacological and psychological therapies).

A new study, led by Australian National University(ANU)PhD researcher Daniela Espinoza Oyarce has recently been published in The Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. The study examined the brains of more than 10,000 people to find out the effect of both conditions on brain volume.<br><br>Oyarce and her colleagues found that the brains of individuals with depression only lost brain volume, with their hippocampus area - linked to sleep appetite and movement - having shrunk. The researchers do not yet know why this occurs, but Oryace hypothesises that it could be linked to chronic stress that "creates a toxic environment" in the brain and is harmful to brain cell.<br><br>Interestingly, however, the research team discovered that the brains of people with both anxiety and depression had increases in brain volume, particularly in an area called the amygdala. While treatments exists for both depression and anxiety, Orayce believes a more complex understanding of the brain is required, especially for individuals who have been treatment resistant (i.e. have not improved with different types of pharmacological and psychological therapies).

Campus Review

A new study, led by Australian National Universit…

Advertisement