Study pinpoints genes with link to depression
● University of Edinburgh research could help with therapies
Nearly 80 genes that could be linked to depression have been discovered by scientists.
The University of Edinburgh findings could help explain why some people may be at a higher risk of developing the condition.
The study could also help researchers develop drugs to tackle mental ill-health.
Depression affects one in five people in the UK every year and is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Recent figures suggest 500,000 people in Scotland may be experiencing depression symptoms. It is one of the most common reasons for people consulting their GP north of the Border.
Life events such as trauma or stress can contribute to its onset, but it is not clear why some people are more likely to develop the condition.
Scientists led by Edinburgh University analysed data from UK Biobank – a research resource containing health and genetic information for half a million people.
They scanned the genetic code of 300,000 people to iden- tify areas of DNA that could be linked to depression.
Some of the pin pointed genes are known to be involved in the function of synapses – tiny connectors that allow brain cells to communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals.
The scientists then confirmed their findings by examining anonymised data held by the personal genetics and research company 23andme, used with the donors’ consent. The study was funded by Wellcome as part of Stratifying Resilience and Depression Longitudinally, a £4.7 million project to better understand the condition.
Professor Andrew Mcintosh, from the University of Edinburgh’s centre for clinical brain sciences, led the Edinburgh-based research group and said: “Depression is a common and often severe condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
“These new findings help us better understand the causes of depression and show how the UK Biobank study and big data research has helped advance mental health research.
“We hope the UK’S growing health data research capacity will help us to make major advances in our understanding of depression in coming years.”
Dr David Howard, research fellow at the centre and the study’s lead author, said: “This study identifies genes that potentially increase our risk of depression, adding to the evidence it is partly a genetic disorder.
“The findings also provide new clues to the causes of depression and we hope it will narrow down the search for therapies.”