American researchers have identified a brain activity pattern, considered a “biomarker”, related to clinical manifestations indicating the recovery of patients with treatment-resistant depression who were treated with a new deep brain stimulation (DBS) device.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced this finding on September 20.
Researchers in the U.S. have discovered a biomarker to monitor the recovery of depression patients. (Source: HUB).
This discovery in the study represents a significant advancement, paving the way for the use of brain data to assess patient responses to DBS treatment.
The study was conducted with adults suffering from treatment-resistant depression who underwent DBS therapy for six months.
The researchers utilized artificial intelligence (AI) tools to analyze brain data collected from patients and observed a common indicator of brain activity, termed the “biomarker,” in patients who self-reported experiencing depressive symptoms or a stable condition as they recovered.
Patients responded well to DBS therapy. After six months, 90% of patients showed significant improvement in depressive symptoms, and 70% reported a reduction in their condition or complete recovery.
According to NIH Director Joshua A. Gordon, this biomarker indicates that brain signals can be used to assess patient responses to DBS treatment, allowing for appropriate adjustments in therapy.
These findings mark an important advancement in bringing this therapy into practice.
| Biomarkers are biological molecules found in blood, fluids, or tissues (such as proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, antibodies, etc.) related to changes in gene expression, protein structure and function, and cellular metabolic signaling, thus serving as indicators of abnormal processes or disease progression. |
