desk
Share
News Topical, Digital Desk : Do you often ignore chronic body pain? If so, you need to be cautious. A recent scientific study has revealed the surprising fact that long-term pain can lead to depression. Pain directly affects certain parts of the brain, which can alter our mental state.
The secret of depression is hidden in the brain's 'hippocampus'
According to this research, published in the prestigious journal "Science," our brain contains an important part called the hippocampus , which is the center of memory. The hippocampus acts as a control room, regulating our emotional responses to chronic pain. When pain persists for a long time, certain changes occur in this area that can push a person toward depression.
Does every pain lead to depression?
To understand this study in depth, the researchers analyzed human brain scans, data from the UK Biobank, and a model using mice. Jianfeng Feng, a professor of computer science at the University of Warwick in the UK and co-author of the study, explains that not everyone who experiences pain will develop depression . It depends entirely on how the brain responds to the pain over time.
A significant difference was found between depression and brain volume.
The study found a very interesting difference. Those who experienced chronic pain but did not suffer from depression had a slightly larger hippocampus volume and increased activity. In contrast, those who suffered from both pain and depression had a smaller hippocampus, impaired activity, and significantly impaired thinking.
When long-term data was analyzed more closely, it was revealed that these negative changes in the brain do not occur suddenly. These changes develop gradually over time. Therefore, it is important to address chronic pain early rather than dismiss it lightly.
Read More: Are you at risk of a silent heart attack? Now, AI can detect the disease in the blink of an eye.
--Advertisement--
