The Food and Drug Administration has approved transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a non-invasive treatment for major depressive disorder. It is particularly effective when you have treatment-resistant depression and have not responded to traditional therapies like medication and psychotherapy.
Brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity, refers to your brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new connections in response to learning, injury, or experiences. Research suggests that depression is associated with brain plasticity problems in critical regions of the brain. Our team can explain the connection between TMS and brain plasticity in depression and determine whether TMS therapy is right for you.
Brain plasticity plays a crucial role in how you regulate your emotions and your cognitive function. It allows your brain to adapt to new information, recover from injuries, and build resilience. Research suggests that depression is associated with brain plasticity, which leads to structural and functional changes in your brain and, therefore, how you think and feel. TMS therapy can help treat depression by influencing neuroplasticity.
For example, image studies have shown that areas of the brain responsible for mood disorders are less active in people with depression. However, after a treatment cycle with TMS therapy, those areas become as active as in people without depression, and clinical symptoms are either eliminated or reduced.
Your brain produces a key molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is involved in brain plasticity. This molecule supports the survival and growth of brain neurons and facilitates connections between them. Research has found that people with depression may have lower levels of BDNF, which contributes to the problems with connectivity in areas of the brain responsible for mood. These deficits make it more challenging to recover from depressive symptoms.
To learn more about how TMS therapy can improve brain plasticity for people with depression, schedule a consultation.
TMS therapy works by delivering electromagnetic pulses to specific areas of the brain and stimulating cell activity. Applying repetitive pulses improves the connection activity in the region of the brain responsible for mood disorders, helping to restore normal brain function.
TMS can also increase BDNF levels, which helps your brain form new pathways. Magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown that a TMS treatment cycle improves connectivity in the brain network related to depression. These changes improve your emotional regulation, cognitive function, and overall mental well-being.
Traditional treatments for depression, such as antidepressant medications, primarily work by altering chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. While this strategy is effective for some people, it does not directly improve brain plasticity. TMS directly stimulates brain plasticity in depression by prompting remodeling and strengthening connections between your brain cells.
This is extremely beneficial if you have treatment-resistant depression since it addresses the underlying structural problems in the brain rather than changing chemical activity with no long-term effects. In certain cases, TMS can be more effective than antidepressants, especially when it is combined with talk therapy or other lifestyle changes that improve brain plasticity.
One of the most promising aspects of TMS treatment is the potential for long-lasting effects on your brain structure and function. TMS therapy may promote improved brain structure, which is associated with better mental health outcomes.
These structural changes indicate that TMS therapy can treat depression in the short term and provide lasting benefits by reinforcing healthy connections between nerve cells. The benefits of TMS have prompted additional research into neuropsychiatric conditions besides depression that benefit from enhanced brain plasticity.
TMS therapy is a powerful tool for improving brain plasticity and promoting your recovery if you struggle with treatment-resistant depression or other mental health conditions. Unlike traditional antidepressant medications that focus on brain chemicals, TMS therapy directly targets the underlying mechanisms that contribute to depression.
Get in touch with our office today to schedule your consultation and learn more about TMS and brain plasticity in depression and how TMS therapy can help reduce or eliminate your symptoms.
