Mental illness like all other diseases, is contributed to by genetic factors. Whether they encode for having the mental illness, by constructing an abnormal brain chemistry, or make one more susceptible to having a mental illness. note: Mental illness is also very much contributed to by environmental factors. Because there is a genetic link to mental illness, the specific genes that contribute to mental illness can be found.
Researchers from QIRM Berghofer have mapped out the genes that contribute to depression and anxiety, using genetic data from over 400 thousand individuals. 674 genes were identified and 509 of those genes were relevant in both illnesses (roughly 75%). The researchers also discovered when analyzing the genes only linked to anxiety, there was a strong overlap with genes linked to hypertension. Genes only linked to depression had a strong overlap with genes linked to hypertriglyceridemia, which suggests depression may also have metabolic components. I think the more we learn about the genetic linkages to mental illness the easier it will be to treat and or medicate for individuals. I think pretty soon, when someone has depression or anxiety we can analyze their genome find the exact receptor problem their genes have coded and create a individual specific inhibitor (or reuptake inhibitor) to treat them.
Links:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-021-01094-9
https://www.cell.com/trends/genetics/fulltext/S0168-9525(99)01721-7
This was an interesting article to read. When people talk about anxiety and depression, they always assume that it is due to environmental factors. I liked that you explained how the genetics factors play a role in anxiety and depression.
ReplyDeleteIt is very good to see such a systematic, large scale study which expresses the linkage of anxiety and depression to genetics which control for both. I theorize that epigenetic activation/inactivation is largely responsible for varying trends in expressions of mental health disorders, as it is without a doubt, both genetic and environmental.
ReplyDeleteWow! I couldnt have seen this at a better time someone in my family was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and she kept looking for an answer why. Although this might not be the case with her it did bring her comfort to know that maybe this is why. This article was very interesting to read and learn about through a first hand experience. There is no doubt in my mind that genetics has something to do with this. Our genes are us, they make up our whole body/ being.
ReplyDeleteI found your post very interesting! It’s wonderful that the genetic factors of mental illnesses are being studied on a vast scale. I agree with you that understanding mental illness’s genetic components will make it easier to treat, as more understanding of what causes the illnesses can lead to more effective treatments.
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