Hippocampus Changes Explain Why Chronic Pain Fuels Depression

A large neuroimaging study shows chronic pain progressively reshapes the hippocampus: early adaptive increases in dentate gyrus activity give way to abnormal microglial activation and hippocampal shrinkage, linked to cognitive decline and depression across various pain types. Animal data suggest minocycline can dampen this process and preserve hippocampal structure; meanwhile, lifestyle factors and mindfulness may boost hippocampal volume and reduce depression risk, implying early, targeted treatment of pain could prevent depressive outcomes.