Forty-Four Genomic Variants Linked to Major Depression

A new meta-analysis of more than 135,000 people with major depression and more than 344,000 controls has identified 44 genomic variants, or loci, that have a statistically significant association with depression.

Depression in men. Image credit: Irais Esparza/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Of these 44 loci, 30 are newly discovered while 14 had been identified in previous studies. In addition, the study identified 153 significant genes, and found that major depression shared six loci that are also associated with schizophrenia.

The study was an unprecedented global effort by over 200 scientists who work with the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium.

Co-leaders of the study are Patrick F. Sullivan, MD, FRANZCP, Yeargen Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Genetics and Director of the Center for Psychiatric Genomics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine; and Naomi Wray, PhD, Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Queensland in Australia.

"We show that we all carry genetic variants for depression, but those with a higher burden are more susceptible," Wray said. "We know that many life experiences also contribute to risk of depression, but identifying the genetic factors opens new doors for research into the biological drivers."

Major depression represents one of the world's most serious public health problems. Despite decades of effort there have been, until now, only scant insights into its biological mechanisms.

This unfortunate state of affairs has severely impeded treatment development, leaving the many people who suffer from depression with limited options. This landmark study represents a major step toward elucidating the biological underpinnings of depression.

The results can be used for improved therapies -- targets of known antidepressant medications were enriched in the genetic findings

The genetic basis of depression overlaps importantly with other psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Intriguingly, the genetic basis of depressive disorder also overlaps with that for obesity and multiple measures of sleep quality, including daytime sleepiness, insomnia and tiredness. (Tasnim News Agency)

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