Scientists have identified two types of brain cells that function differently in people with depression, a finding that could guide more targeted treatments, according to a study published in Nature Genetics.
Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute analyzed post-mortem brain tissue from 100 individuals, including 59 diagnosed with depression, using single-cell genomic techniques to examine gene activity across thousands of cells.
They found significant changes in excitatory neurons, which regulate mood and stress, and in microglia, immune cells responsible for inflammation in the brain, indicating disruptions in both neural signaling and immune processes.
Depression affects more than 264 million people globally and remains a leading cause of disability, with its biological mechanisms not fully understood.
The study provides cell-level evidence of how the disorder develops, moving beyond earlier research focused on broader brain regions. Researchers said the findings could help identify new therapeutic targets, though further work is needed to assess how these cellular changes influence overall brain function.
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