Depression is incredibly complex, highly individual, and most often linked to a cache of other triggers and comorbidities. We found 178 genetic mutations associated with pathological disorders (MDD), confirming that our DNA plays a key role in mental illness.
Researchers at McGill University in Canada now advocate a more gender-dependent diagnostic model and treatment after finding distinctly different genetic associations for depression between male and female genomes. .
In a study of more than 270,000 individuals drawn from the UK’s Biobank database, scientists found that sex-specific predictive methods were far more accurate in assessing MDD risk than men and women together. I discovered something. They found 11 regions of DNA specifically associated with depression in women, and only one of her in the genome of men.
They also found that depression was sharply associated with metabolic disorders in women, and although previous studies of this association have confirmed it, it is not gender-specific.
Interestingly, this study found that both males and females share a problem with the BMAL1 protein, a regulator of circadian rhythms. Insomnia was one of the important symptoms in men and women with MDD.
“This is the first study to describe a sex-specific genetic variant associated with depression, a disease that is very common in both men and women,” said lead author and associate professor of psychiatry at McGill University. “These findings are important to inform the development of specific treatments that benefit both men and women, while taking into account the differences between men and women,” said Dr. Patricia Perfo Silveira.
Among its complications is the fact that depression is highly variable in severity, symptoms and patterns of episodes, yet it is estimated to affect approximately 280 million people worldwide. It is responsible for approximately 700,000 suicides each year.
“In the clinic, symptoms of depression differ greatly between men and women, and they respond differently to treatment, but at this time we know very little about why this happens.
Researchers believe this discovery will lead to the development of tailored treatment options that focus on gender-specific genetic networks, and more scientists will investigate genomic cues for depression across racially diverse populations. I hope to encourage you to do so.
The study was published in a journal molecular psychology.
Source: McGill University
