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How brain cells meant to help may be making depression worse

Major depressive disorder affects hundreds of millions worldwide, but a key to understanding its origins may lie in the brain’s immune system. New findings spotlight astrocytes—previously overshadowed by microglia—as major players in neuroinflammation that drives depression. These star-shaped brain cells, once thought to only support neurons, are now shown to regulate communication between brain cells and even trigger or amplify inflammatory responses.

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