Depression was linked to stalled adult neurogenesis and widespread molecular changes in hippocampal memory circuits.

A small stream of new neurons continues to appear in the adult hippocampus even though most of the brain’s roughly 100 billion neurons are formed before birth. Research from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons suggests that this limited adult neurogenesis, the creation of new neurons, could play an important role in protecting against depression.

The researchers report for the first time that neurogenesis stalls in the brains of adults with major depressive disorder. They also identified molecular programs involved in controlling this process, providing potential targets for future treatments.