Unfortunately, depression and its effects are often misunderstood by the majority of people, even those who have it. Depression is more than just feeling sad and hopeless, it actually has a serious and observable effect on the brain. With teen depression on the rise, it is important to understand the extent of this phenomenon, allowing you to make informed decisions when it comes to the mental health of your child.
Depressed Brain vs. Normal Brain
When comparing a depressed brain to a normal brain, there will be stark differences between the two. This is surprising, as many people do not think of a mental disorder as having physical symptoms. However, depression does in fact cause physical changes to the brain. These changes usually involve inflammation and/or shrinkage of crucial parts of the brain, as well as a decrease in gray matter volume and neurotransmitters.
Inflammation
It is unclear if brain inflammation causes depression, or if it is the other way around. However, it is certain that when a person has a major depressive episode, they have higher levels of translocator proteins. These are chemicals that have been linked to inflammation of the brain. This is concerning because brain inflammation can lead to the death of brain cells and prevent new brain cells from forming. Inflammation can also disrupt dopamine-driven reward mechanisms, which can decrease motivation, seriously impacting the life of someone suffering from depression.
Memory
Research has shown that depression can affect the amygdala and hippocampus. These are the areas of the brain responsible for memory. This results in people suffering from depression having memory issues. Most commonly this presents itself as short-term memory loss, causing them to forget information that was recently learned. It should be noted that depression does not seem to affect long-term memory in the same way.
Brain Size
Depression can cause a decrease in brain size. This volume loss is seen in numerous parts of the brain including:
- Hippocampus: Responsible for memory, learning, navigation, and spatial perception.
- Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for managing attention, impulse control, and emotional reactions.
- Thalamus: Responsible for relaying information from the cerebral cortex to the brain stem.
- Amygdala: Responsible for regulating emotion and memory.
The shrinking seen in these areas is due to a reduction in gray matter volume. This is tissue which contains a large amount of brain cells. Research shows that the more severe the depression, the more gray matter volume that is lost.
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that relay messages from neuron to neuron within the brain. When someone is suffering from depression, they often have decreased levels of neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters affected in this way include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. It is believed that the decrease in neurotransmitters is responsible for some of the symptoms of depression, such as mood changes. For this reason, many antidepressants work by trying to increase the amount of neurotransmitters.
Can Depression Cause Brain Fog?
Depression has been linked to brain fog. Brain fog is a collection of cognitive symptoms including:
- Difficulty remembering information and recalling words.
- Difficulty making decisions and prioritizing tasks.
- Difficulty holding attention, especially when one must divide their attention.
- Difficulty maintaining a clear thought process.
- Difficulty holding focus.
- Inability to think or respond quickly.
- Having trouble learning new skills or information.
These symptoms can begin before a depressive episode, and can even last well after the episode is over. It is believed that this brain fog is caused by depression disrupting the neural network in the brain. Brain fog depression can be extremely worrying and anxiety-inducing for those who suffer from it.
How to Reverse the Impact of Depression on the Brain
Learning that depression affects the brain in these ways can be scary for parents of depressed teens. Don’t worry though, there are a number of methods that may prove helpful in reversing the impact of depression on the brain. These include:
- Brain exercises, such as puzzles and word games, to combat short-term memory loss.
- Getting enough sleep to ensure the brain gets the rest and recovery time it needs.
- Reducing stress, which will lower stress hormones, which may be responsible for depression affecting the brain.
- Good nutrition can help combat brain fog and sluggishness.
If your child is suffering from depression, you should also consider enrolling them in a day treatment program. This will give them access to medical professionals who can provide therapy that may reverse the impact of depression on the brain.