Scientists have identified three brain pathways associated with lasting improvements in people receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe, treatment-resistant depression. The findings may help explain why the treatment works for some patients but not others. Researchers discovered that patients who failed to improve after two years shared a common pattern: insufficient stimulation of a crucial brain connection. This suggests that even millimetres of difference in electrode placement could significantly influence treatment outcomes. By understanding these brain circuits, researchers hope to refine stimulation techniques and develop more targeted treatments for people whose depression has not responded to conventional therapies.
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