Brain cells linked to depression identified by researchers – Dr Turecki

Published on: 2026-04-23 08:00

23 April 2026,

An article in ScienceDaily reports on a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, based on an analysis of post-mortem brain tissue from the Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank.

Researchers from McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre have identified two types of brain cells that function differently in people with depression, opening up new insights into the biological mechanisms of the condition.

« This is the first time we’ve been able to identify what specific brain cell types are affected in depression by mapping gene activity together with mechanisms that regulate the DNA code. It gives us a much clearer picture of where disruptions are happening, and which cells are involved. »

– Gustavo Turecki, professor at McGill and clinician-scientist at the Douglas Institute

This breakthrough reinforces the view that depression is underpinned by measurable biological changes in the brain and paves the way for future targeted therapeutic approaches.

Brain cells linked to depression identified by researchers – Dr Turecki

Source: Science Daily