Major Depressive Disorder News and Research

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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by depressed mood or anhedonia (significant loss of interest or pleasure). The condition affects more than 15.7 million adults and approximately 3 million adolescents (aged 13 to 17 years) in the USA each year.

Exploring the link between leaky blood-brain barrier and major depressive disorder

Women are affected by severe depression twice as often as men. The reasons for this have not yet been fully clarified.

16 Oct 2025

Rapid heart rate changes predict response to magnetic brain stimulation in depression

Researchers led by Dr. Roberto Goya-Maldonado at the University Medical Center Göttingen have identified a rapid physiological marker that predicts which patients with major depression will respond to magnetic brain stimulation therapy.

14 Oct 2025

Drinking soft drinks may fuel depression by altering gut bacteria

A study links soft drink consumption to increased depression risk, highlighting gut microbiome changes, particularly in women. Learn more about the findings.

10 Oct 2025

Reelin protein may help heal both "leaky gut" and severe depression

What if a protein could be injected to help heal both "leaky gut" and severe depression? New research from the University of Victoria (UVic), published in Chronic Stress, shows that a glycoprotein called Reelin may one day be able to do just that.

7 Oct 2025

Harnessing AI tools for better treatment of serious mental illnesses

Serious mental illnesses (SMI) take a tremendous toll on individuals, their friends and family, and society as a whole.

6 Oct 2025

New study suggests a connection between soft drinks and depression via the microbiome

A new study involving the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) provides strong evidence that sugary drinks affect not only metabolic but also mental health – especially in women. This effect is probably mediated by the sensitive microbiome of the intestine.

25 Sep 2025

Scientists uncover 53 genetic clues that shape math ability beyond IQ

Researchers uncovered 53 genetic loci linked to quantitative ability, distinguishing it from general intelligence and non-cognitive skills. The study highlights brain pathways in axon guidance, synaptic signaling, and mRNA splicing as biological underpinnings of math-related ability.

22 Sep 2025

Psoriasis linked to higher risk of age-related macular degeneration

New research presented today at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2025 reveals that people with psoriasis face a significantly increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss.

17 Sep 2025

Keto diet reduces depression symptoms by 70% in college students

Research indicates a ketogenic diet may serve as an effective adjunct therapy for major depression in college students, improving mood and cognitive abilities.

15 Sep 2025

Study quantifies the prevalence of suicidal thoughts among university students

The university stage, particularly its beginning, is a time of tension and emotional stress for young students-many of whom are under the age of 20.

11 Sep 2025

Ketogenic diet shows promise in reducing depression symptoms in college students

A new study shows an association between at least 10 weeks of following a well-formulated ketogenic diet and a roughly 70% decrease in depression symptoms among a small group of college students.

9 Sep 2025

GeneSight test improves outcomes in major depressive disorder, meta-analysis shows

Myriad Genetics, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostic testing and precision medicine, today announced the publication of a new meta-analysis of six prospective controlled studies that included 3,532 adults with major depressive disorder (MDD).

5 Sep 2025

Research sheds new light on depression’s biological roots

Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute have identified two specific types of brain cells that are altered in people with depression.

28 Aug 2025

New molecular mechanism offers hope for treating depression in the elderly

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses worldwide, but its molecular causes have still not been clearly identified.

25 Aug 2025

Lithium deficiency emerges as a hidden driver of Alzheimer’s

What is the earliest spark that ignites the memory-robbing march of Alzheimer’s disease? Why do some people with Alzheimer’s-like changes in the brain never go on to develop dementia? These questions have bedeviled neuroscientists for decades.

8 Aug 2025

Herbal remedies show promise for treating depression

This scoping review analyzes OTC products for depression, uncovering effective treatments and emphasizing the need for further studies on herbal efficacy.

4 Aug 2025

Mount Sinai researcher uncovers how the brain and body interact in aging and depression

In a comprehensive Genomic Press interview published in Brain Medicine today, Dr. Hamilton Se-Hwee Oh reveals groundbreaking insights into the complex dialogue between our brains and bodies that fundamentally shapes aging, depression, and neurodegenerative disease.

22 Jul 2025

Prefrontal cortex RNA drives female-specific brain resilience to depression

A traditionally overlooked type of RNA plays an important role in promoting resilience to depression-but only in females.

12 Jul 2025

Maternal depression found to disrupt key parenting behaviors

Mothers experiencing depression have considerable challenges across multiple parenting domains, according to a global systematic review published in the July issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry, part of the Lippincott portfolio from Wolters Kluwer.

11 Jul 2025

Early therapy for preschool depression shows long lasting benefits

Depression affects 1%-2% of children younger than 13 in the U.S. and can arise as early as age 3, but a specialized therapeutic intervention can help preschool-aged children find relief from this condition - with benefits lasting at least four years, according to a new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

27 Jun 2025