In the largest spectroscopy meta-analysis of depression, 1,180 patients against 1,066 controls, the glutamate-plus-glutamine signal in medial frontal cortex was lower, not higher: -0.38.
Glutamate alone showed no difference.
Glutamate dysregulation is a key driver of issues such as anxiety, anhedonia, bipolar disorders, headaches, autism spectrum disorder, TBIs, irritability, inability to focus etc
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Sep 24, 2026 · 10:00 PM UTC
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Moriguchi et al., Glutamatergic neurometabolite levels in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies, Molecular Psychiatry 2019, Keio University, CAMH Toronto and Yokohama City University (open access; 49 studies; the decrease reached significance only in medicated patients).
doi.org/10.1038/s41380-018-0…
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