Scientists have pinpointed two key brain networks that play a decisive role in the risk that an individual will attempt suicide, which is one of the world's major killers.
Scientists have identified unique patterns of brain activity that seems to be associated with an heightened risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
The Inquistment by researchers, inclusive of those from the Cambridge University in the UK, may provide important targets for the generation of more effectual suicide prevention strategies.
Suicide is one of the major cause of death :
Scientists noted that around 8 lakh people die globally by suicide every year, the equivalent of one people every 40 seconds.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death globally among 15-29 year olds, said the researchers.
The team noted that more juvenile die by committing suicide than from dealdly diseases like cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
About study :
The study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, readressed twenty years worth of existing literature related to brain imaging studies of suicidal behaviour and thoughts.
The scientists looked at approximately 131 studies, which covered over 12,000 individuals, looking at alterations in structure and function of brain, that might increase an individual's suicide risk.
The researchers looked for evidence of structural, functional, and molecular alterations in the brain that could increase the risk of suicide.
Which are these two brain networks? :
The study suggests that changes in two key brain networks involved in decision-making and emotion can increase the likelihood that a person will think about or try to commit suicide.
Decision making
The first network :
The first of these networks involves areas towards the front of the brain known as the medial and lateral ventral prefrontal cortex and their connections to other brain regions involved in emotion, the researchers said.
Remoulding in this network may lead to excessive negative thoughts, and difficulties regulating emotions, stimulating thoughts of suicide, they said.
Negativity
The second network :
The researchers explained that the second network involves regions known as the dorsal prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus system.
Remoulding in this network may influence suicide attempt, in part, due to its role in decision making, generating alternative solutions to problems, and controlling behaviour, the study found.
What does scientists told?
The researchers suggest that altering the networks in terms of their structure, function or biochemistry, might lead to a condition where an individual thinks negatively about the his or her future.
They also said that, this can also make them unable to control their thoughts, which might lead to situations where an individual is at higher risk for suicide.
"The review provides evidence to support a very hopeful future in which we will find new and improved ways to reduce risk of suicide," said Professor Hilary Blumberg, Yale University, USA
"The brain circuitry differences found to cluster across the many studies provide crucial targets in order to frame more effective suicide prevention strategies," Blumberg said.
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