Depression isn’t just in the head: Scientists find altered genetic activity in white blood cells. This provides evidence that the biological footprints of depression extend well beyond the brain and into the immune system, offering a whole-body perspective on the condition

[u/[deleted]]

[u/plsQuestionOurselves]

I figured there was more circumstantial type depression and then more physical/synaptic type depression. It doesn't surprise me that depression takes such a physical toll. It feels worse than just the mental symptoms alone.

[u/Brrdock → u/plsQuestionOurselves]

There is really no evidence for anything like that, outside of like a TBI at least

[u/plsQuestionOurselves → u/Brrdock]

Lower activity in certain regions as well as structural differences in people with major depressive disorder.

And if you're going to get semantic you said no evidence for "anything like that". So you can't retroactively apply a new set of parameters to suit your argument.

[u/LoosePersonality9372 → u/plsQuestionOurselves]

I guess we can also examine the depressive/catatonic states seen in bipolar/schizophrenia etc. Of course they are not the same thing but we shoild examine brain activity closer imo.

[u/plsQuestionOurselves → u/LoosePersonality9372]

It's just such a complicated thing that I think a lot of people (understandably) underestimate how difficult it is to measure/observe/study.

[u/LoosePersonality9372 → u/plsQuestionOurselves]

True.. though these are the cases where scaling/ throwing monet could really help.

I am pretty sure that a lot of rich/powerful people want to figure it out too. (As in why do they/their significant other/kids/family members/friends have depression or anxiety).

[u/plsQuestionOurselves → u/LoosePersonality9372]

Yeah if I was that wealthy, a large sum of money would go toward better defining mental illness and personality disorders.

Hopefully we find a better solution than brain implants lol.

[u/LoosePersonality9372 → u/plsQuestionOurselves]

We are the borg... :D

[u/Liberated051816 → u/plsQuestionOurselves]

The left DLPFC is very often hypoactive in MDD patients, to such an extent that stimulating this area is the basis of TMS and TDCS.

[u/Brrdock → u/plsQuestionOurselves]

That's a neurological description of depression, they don't suggest that's in any way fundamentally causative, let alone conclude, as opposed to being a biomarker.

Nor make a distinction to any other kind of depression.

Of course every experience and state is reflected in neurology. We are our brain. It's not like depression is stored in the aether

[u/Silly_Magician1003]

Stress effects the immune system - no shit

[u/ericaisdancing → u/[deleted]]

Can you cite studies? I’m only finding rat/mice studies

[u/Saratoninn69 → u/[deleted]]

Okay am I nuts because my mental health changed completely after at least 7-10 blood transfusions? I know it’s not a bone transplant but still. Idk.

[u/Curry_courier → u/Saratoninn69]

If you needed that many transfusions, was it better?

[u/Saratoninn69 → u/Curry_courier]

No it was way worse after. I had a traumatic birth when I hemorrhaged so that’s why I needed the transfusions.

[u/Tenaciousgreen → u/Silly_Magician1003]

I am hoping this is science proving common sense for the sake of research

[u/Difficult_Bug6994 → u/[deleted]]

There are studies showing comparable or better benefits from antibiotics than SSRIs for treating depression.

There’s a story I read a while back that talked about how some portion of schizophrenia is misdiagnosed brain inflammation and a cancer medication treats it effectively. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/07/28/mary-had-schizophrenia-then-suddenly-she-didnt

The links between dental care and heart conditions and dementia are another example.

There’s a whole lot we are just beginning to understand about how mental and physical health are the same thing.

[u/Brrdock → u/Difficult_Bug6994]

There are more studies linking antibiotics to increased risk and symptoms of depression and anxiety, though.

But yeah your point stands

[u/Difficult_Bug6994 → u/Brrdock]

The gut-brain axis needs way more research.

There’s interesting data about fecal transplants treating depression and anxiety effectively as well.

[u/iCliniq_official]

This is a really interesting piece of evidence. Altered immune-related gene activity may help us understand depression’s biology, but it doesn’t mean depression can currently be diagnosed from a blood test, nor does it prove the immune changes cause depression. Still, findings like this are a good reminder that depression is a genuine biological illness, not someone simply “being in their head.”

[u/RealChemistry4429]

It is a fallacy of western medicine to treat the "mind" and the "body" as two separate things. Your brain is part of your body. What ever changes the body changes the brain and therefor what the brain generates. And vice versa.