Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It's more than just a feeling of being "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life.

Clinical Depression: Diagnosis, Causes & Treatment

Depression is a clinical condition that, contrary to popular opinion, cannot simply be overcome with time and it needs to be treated.

Symptoms of Depression

How Does Your Diet Affect Depression?

Depression Diagnosis

Causes of Depression

Intrusive Thoughts and Depression

Link Between Chronic Illness and Depression

Prisoner Depression and Low Mood

Treatment Options for Children with Depression

Supporting Children with Mental Health Disorders

Depression and Sleep Length

Ghrelin and Depression

See more featured articles »

Depression in children

Can Depression and Anxiety Occur Together?

How is Depression in Children Diagnosed?

How Can I Tell if My Child is Depressed?

Situational Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Genes and Depression

5 Facts You May Not Know About Depression

Food Insecurity and Depression

Treatment of Depression

Antidepressants and Weight Changes

Contributing Factors to Post-Adoption Depression

The Science Behind the Winter Blues: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder

Latest Depression News and Research

Social support plays an important role in health and well-being of older adults

Two recent studies from the University of Eastern Finland show that social support plays an important role in health and well-being in later life. Having access to adequate social support is associated with longevity among older adults, and with better quality of life among home care recipients.

27 Nov 2025

Ultrasound technique modifies human reward learning for the first time

The nucleus accumbens is a tiny element of the human brain triggered when we experience something enjoyable, and used to help us learn behaviours that lead to rewards.

27 Nov 2025

Chronic drinking weakens the blood-brain barrier through the gut

Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the blood-brain barrier, but Faecalibacterium prausnitzii shows promise in repairing this damage and improving cognition.

27 Nov 2025

Poor lung gas exchange may help explain lingering brain symptoms in Long COVID

This study found that people with Long COVID more than two years after infection showed normal lung tests and brain structure, yet reported significant sleep and cognitive symptoms. Subtle correlations revealed that poorer lung gas exchange was linked with higher brain perfusion, worse sleep, and weaker executive function, suggesting a possible lung–brain connection.

25 Nov 2025

Daily walking patterns help flag early Parkinson’s signs in large UK study

Accelerometer data from nearly 95,000 adults show that higher daily step counts predict lower short-term Parkinson’s disease risk. But as follow-up extends, the association fades, indicating that reduced steps are more likely an early marker than a cause.

25 Nov 2025

Genetic signals reveal why erectile dysfunction develops and who is most at risk

This multi-ancestry genomic study identifies key genetic loci underlying erectile dysfunction and shows that ED risk is shaped by both cardiometabolic and substance use–related genetic pathways. Using EHR-linked data, the researchers uncover SIM1-related mechanisms, modest PRS performance, and bidirectional genetic links with obesity, diabetes, and addiction traits.

25 Nov 2025

Electroconvulsive therapy found to be highly effective in treating elderly patients with depression

Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients suffering from depression.

25 Nov 2025

Using a prebiotic after traumatic brain injury may help reduce impulsive behavior

Using a prebiotic to influence bacterial activity in the gut after a traumatic brain injury may help reduce impulsive behavior, one of the common symptoms to follow a moderate blow to the head, a new study in rats suggests.

25 Nov 2025

Deficient ATP release in the brain drives depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors

In a new JNeurosci paper, Tian-Ming Gao and colleagues, from Southern Medical University, explored how adenosine triphosphate (ATP) signaling relates to depression and anxiety using male mice. ATP is a molecule that not only provides energy but also supports communication between neurons.

25 Nov 2025

Deep learning AI model identifies first-of-its-kind biomarker of chronic stress

Using a deep learning AI model, researchers identified the first-of-its-kind biomarker of chronic stress detectable through routine imaging, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

25 Nov 2025

Genetic factors behind impulsive choices tied to metabolic and mental health

Researchers from University of California San Diego have identified 11 genetic regions linked to delay discounting - the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones - shedding new light on how impulsive decision-making relates to both mental and physical health.

24 Nov 2025

Can diet calm early memory problems? Anti-inflammatory Mediterranean eating shows promise

Older women who follow a strongly anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet report far fewer subjective memory complaints than those who do not. The AnMED pattern outperforms both traditional Mediterranean and MIND diets, showing a clear advantage for protecting early cognitive symptoms.

24 Nov 2025

Does coffee truly boost memory and focus or is it all hype?

Coffee’s bioactive compounds, especially caffeine, show potential cognitive, neuroprotective, and neuroplasticity benefits across animal and human studies. However, most findings are observational, mechanisms remain uncertain, and optimal intake is still unclear.

23 Nov 2025