Researchers have identified biological markers in blood plasma that predict whether psilocybin and ketamine therapies will effectively treat an individual’s depression, according to findings presented by Tracy L. Bale of the University of Colorado Anschutz at Neuroscience 2026.

The findings were shared at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington, D.C., where scientists gathered to evaluate how alternative interventions, including psychedelic drugs, mindfulness techniques, and physical fitness, perform as rates of depression continue to rise globally.

In another investigation examining alternative approaches, Roma Kidambi of Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine evaluated adolescents who completed an online mind-body intervention. The study found that decreases in gray matter volume within the cingulate cortex were associated with a reduction in depressive symptom scores.

Addressing neuroanatomical changes in older populations, Meredith Braskie of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California reported that cognitively unimpaired older adults with depression displayed thinner brain tissue in a specific region of the brain. The researchers noted that this thinner tissue might be partly explained by higher body mass index, which is more common among individuals with depression, suggesting that brain differences linked to the disorder may be partly connected to factors such as weight.

Eric Nestler of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who moderated the press event, stated that the findings presented at the conference represent important strides toward precision treatments for depression.

The reported studies received support from national funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, alongside private funding organizations, contributing to research conducted by clinicians and basic scientists investigating the nervous system.

The broader context of these presentations centers on addressing depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide. As rates of depression continue to rise globally, more people are turning to alternative approaches for both treatment and prevention. The presentations at the conference explore the effectiveness of alternative strategies, examining how interventions such as psychedelic drugs, mindfulness techniques, and physical fitness perform in treating the condition beyond standard antidepressants.

These evaluations were presented at Neuroscience 2026, the annual meeting organized by the Society for Neuroscience. The society represents an organization of nearly 30,000 basic scientists and clinicians dedicated to the study of the brain and the nervous system. Serving as the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, the annual gathering provides a primary international forum for researchers to report new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.

The press briefing was moderated by Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, who serves as the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Nestler is widely recognized as one of the world’s top depression researchers, whose scientific work has transformed understanding among investigators regarding the root causes of the disorder. Discussing the collective significance of the reported research, Nestler noted that the findings presented at the meeting make important strides toward the goal of precision treatments for depression.

The scheduled press event took place on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. EST in Room 202B of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The proceedings were also made available online for registered media professionals. Access to the full conference program in person and online requires formal media credentials, while members of the press and the public can view the complete schedule of press events on EurekAlert!.

The investigations highlighted during the session were supported by national funding agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, alongside multiple private funding organizations. For individuals seeking further scientific context regarding the biological mechanisms of depressive illness, additional information about depression and the brain is made available through BrainFacts.

Subject of Research: Biomarkers and alternative interventions for depression

Article Title: Beyond antidepressants: new frontiers in treating depression

Article References: Beyond antidepressants: new frontiers in treating depression. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: Not provided

Keywords: depression, psilocybin, ketamine, biomarkers, blood plasma, mind-body intervention, cingulate cortex, gray matter volume, body mass index, older adults, adolescents, precision medicine, Society for Neuroscience, Neuroscience 2026, National Institutes of Health, brain tissue, mental health