In Germany, suicide is responsible for more deaths than AIDS, murder, drug abuse, or traffic accidents. Depression and other affective disorders, as well as certain medications, are among the main causes. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to detect warning signs of impending suicide, making timely intervention challenging even for experienced doctors. However, researchers at the University of Illinois in Chicago have discovered that individuals who have attempted suicide or have suicidal thoughts have different brain connections than healthy individuals. This discovery could serve as an early warning indicator and prevent suicides in the future.
The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the brains of 212 young adults, including 18 with affective disorders who had attempted suicide in the past, 60 who had suicidal thoughts but had not attempted suicide, and a control group of healthy individuals. The study found that individuals who had attempted suicide had weaker connections within the cognitive control network, which controls problem-solving and impulsivity, as well as weaker connections to other networks such as the default mode network. The group with suicidal thoughts showed similar changes in brain connections. The researchers believe that these findings could help identify individuals at risk of suicide and improve treatment.
The researchers plan to conduct a larger study with more participants who have attempted suicide in the past and observe them over a longer period to deepen their understanding of the brain mechanisms behind suicide risk. Ultimately, the goal is to use this information to prevent suicides. As Jonathan Stange, the study’s author, explains, “It ultimately comes down to using this information to prevent suicides.” By identifying individuals at risk of suicide and improving their brain connections, it may be possible to reduce the risk of suicide in the future.
