A team from the Berghoffer Medical Research Institute in Australia analyzed genetic predisposition to depression in both men and women. The study found that women carry twice as many depression-related genes as men. This suggests that women are genetically more prone to developing clinical depression than men. The researchers say this finding could change how clinicians treat the disorder.
What Did the Scientists Report?
Medical professionals have long known that depression more frequently affects women, but the biological reasons behind this have remained a mystery.
During the study, researchers analyzed the genetic data of approximately 200,000 individuals suffering from depression, as reported by Science Alert. The team found that women had nearly twice as many genetic markers associated with depression compared with men. Specifically, women with this disorder had around 13,000 genetic markers linked to depression, while men had about 7,000.
Dr. Jodie Thomas, the lead author of the study, commented on the results: “The genetic component of depression in women is expressed more strongly than in men. Studying the common and unique genetic factors in men and women gives us a clearer picture of the causes of depression and paves the way for more personalized treatment.”
“We identified some genetic features that may help explain why women with depression often experience metabolic symptoms such as changes in weight or energy levels,” the researcher added.
Meanwhile, her colleague Brittany Mitchell said the results could change approaches to treating depression in women. She also noted that follow-up studies are still needed to explain why depression affects women differently and what role genetics plays.
The team believes their work is significant, especially given that many recent high-profile studies on depression have focused mainly on men. As a result, most participants in those studies were men.
Clinical depression is one of the most common mental health disorders. According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from it.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
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