British Researchers: Depression Causes the Brain to Shrink
British researchers say that by using the latest brain scanning techniques, they have discovered that depression actually causes people's brains to shrink over time. Bipolar disorder has the same effect. When people are effectively treated for depression the brain creates new neurons and the brains regain the lost volume. The doctors are unsure whether antidepressants are helping stimulate the growth of new neurons. The research also does not address the cause of depression. The AP reports:
