Building on an earlier study initiated 27 years ago, scientists at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons have found structural differences in the brains of people whose family has had a history of depression over several generations.

Researchers found a significant thinning of the right cortex in descendants of parents and grandparents who had suffered with depression.

The cerebral cortex in critically involved in reasoning, planning and mood and it’s thought that a thinning in this area of the brain may disrupt a person’s social and emotional behavior.

131 people between the ages of 6 and 54 had their brains scanned and imaged; about half were considered high risk for depression because of their family history. Twenty-eight percent showed significant thinning of the right cerebral hemisphere, compared with the control group.

Commenting on the study, Dr. Bradley S. Peterson said, “That’s what is so extraordinary. You’re seeing it two generations later, and you’re seeing it in both children and adults.”

It’s not known if depression is a genetic trait, or a bi-product of growing up around family members who are depressed. Peterson said, “Studies have shown that when parents are depressed, it changes the environment in which children are growing up.” Still, Peterson added, “If you have thinning in this portion of the brain, it interferes with the processing of emotional stimuli. We think that’s what makes them vulnerable to developing anxiety and depression…”