A recent study published in Science Advances reveals that postpartum depression affects brain changes in pregnant women. By scanning the brains of women before and after childbirth, researchers identified increases in the size of the amygdala and hippocampus—key regions involved in emotional processing and regulation—in women who displayed postpartum depression symptoms. The study indicates that women's perceptions of a stressful childbirth experience correlate with these changes, shedding light on how depression circuitry in the brain is altered during pregnancy and marking a significant step toward understanding perinatal mental health issues.
Researchers scanned the brains of pregnant women and found that those who developed postpartum depression had changes in brain areas related to emotion processing.
The study shows that women with postpartum depression symptoms exhibited increased volumes in the amygdala and hippocampus, critical areas for emotional regulation.
This research highlights profound brain changes during pregnancy, specifically in those experiencing perinatal depression, marking an important step in understanding these changes.
Dr. Sheila Shanmugan emphasized that this study is critical for understanding brain changes across normal and depressed pregnancies, which can inform treatment.
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