The Genetics of Depression Are Different for Men and Women

An important factor in getting depression is our genetic makeup, and our sex, as it turns out, is a factor in how these genes are expressed. And the molecular structure in men and women differ which can result in a difference in depression. So if men and women do have a difference in depression, it could potentially mean that they need different treatments. In women, studies found that genes that affected synapse function were expressed more than in men. In men, those genes showed a decrease in expression. Researchers also found differences in other genes, and whether they were expressed in men or in women. It was found that women are affected by Major Depressive Order almost twice as much as men are, yet many studies only examine men who are affected and don't take into account the differences between men and women. This research could potentially change how depression is looked at and treated. Depression is already a complex disease that has yet to have a solid understanding, so this research could help people in the field gain a better understanding in order to treat those who have it accurately.

I thought this article was a good starting point for people to understand that men and women have differences in gene expression and how that affects depression. Depression is a major problem that isn't taken seriously, especially in women. To finally see there being research done to understand the differences in gene expression of genes that affect depression, is important for effective treatment.

Article: https://gizmodo.com/the-genetics-of-depression-are-different-for-men-and-wo-1823763197 
Original Study: http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(18)30065-9/fulltext

Two Genes Link Genetic Variation to Depression

A countless amount of people in the world suffer from various forms of depression in today's society. Various factors cause depression and now for the first time, geneticists have confirmed a genetic link to depression. It has been determined that two genetic variants contribute to the risk of major depression disorder.

Genome sequences of 5,303 Chinese women with major depression disorder (MDD) were observed and then compared to genome sequences of 5,337 non-depressed, healthy Chinese women throughout 38 hospitals across China. The researchers observed two genetic links located on chromosome 10 with the disorder, SIRT1 gene (deals with the mitochondrial function) and LHPP gene (deals with the brain, the liver and kidneys). Despite this discovery being made, the people with these genes only have a slight increased risk of developing MDD (less than 1 percent increase),

Although this discovery was only "borderline significant", there still was a connection made between people with these two genes and depression. I believe that this information is extremely important even though there was not much evidence providing why depression is higher in people with these two genetic variants compared to those who do not have the genes, it still was some information. Opening this door of linking genetic variants to depression could open many other doors and begin to clarify the biology behind depression and how to prevent it from happening or how at a younger age treatment could be offered.

Link to article:

http://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2015.122

Link to supporting article:

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/43557/title/Genetic-Variants-Linked-to-Depression/

5 Disorders Share Genetic Risk Factors, Study Finds

According to an article published in the New York Times, there are five psychiatric illnesses that share several genetic glitches, which are responsible for pushing the brain along a path toward mental illness. These psychiatric illnesses are bipolar disorder, autism, schizophrenia, major depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There are other factors that also influence mental illness such as other genetic issues as well as environmental factors. 

This study began in 2007 and included 60,000 people worldwide. Of these 60,000 people who were involved with the study, 33,332 were affected by mental illness and 27,888 that were not. Researchers examined the DNA from each participant searching for any variations. This study found four DNA areas that conferred a slight risk of psychiatric disorders. Two have been identified as genes that are part of the calcium channel. It is not clear what the other two genes are involved in or what they do.

I found this article to be interesting. The study that was preformed did produce good results however, I think further research is still required. Especially on the two genes that researchers are not sure of what their function is, maybe they are the key to creating a better treatment for psychiatric illnesses.

Five Different Disorders Sharing Genetic Risk Factors

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, major depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder all share the same genetic risk factor, a new study finds.  The genes used were very important signaling genes that are located in the brain. Scientists hope to study these signaling genes to see how the signaling may become altered thus leading to these disorders. While scientists believe that this is just the beginning and there is a long way to go it is believed that there will be no simple fix since hundreds of different mechanisms probably cause these conditions. Scientists believe this is simply a starting point. This article says that there is a long way to go, however since there is now a know starting point hopefully results and new findings come flooding in. http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/05/disorders.aspx

Women with Bipolar Disorder Have a 50% Greater Risk of Delivering a Premature Baby

A new study was recently done at Women's College Hospital and at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative  Sciences (ICES) concerning the amount of premature babies born from women previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that can cause major changes in mood, energy, or anything that has to do that can affect someone's everyday life.

In the study they conducted the researchers looked at the health record of women who delivered a baby between the years of 2003 and 2011. They then compared the women who were previously hospitalized for bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder to the general population. When the researchers did this they found many many differences between the women who have been hospitalized and the women who have not and the birth of their babies.

These findings included:
Women who have been previously hospitalized for bipolar disorder were twice as likely to give birth to a premature baby compared to women who have no history of mental illness.
Babies that were born to women with bipolar disorder were more likely to be bigger for their age while babies born to women with major depressive disorder were more likely to be smaller for their age.
Babies that were born to women with bipolar disorder were more likely to show birth defects and malformations.
Babies that were born to women with bipolar disorder were also more likely to be readmitted to the hospital just after 28 days of being home.

Although this study did not examine the causes that led to their findings they could still possibly try and reduce the risk of premature babies. Babies being born premature can also negatively affect their childhood and adulthood so every possible reduction to it is important. Since it is clear that women with mental illness are more likely to have premature babies this shows that stress hormones can lead to premature birth. We can also see that the symptoms of the mental illnesses can lead to premature birth such as lack of exercise, lack of nutrition, obesity and even lack of interaction with other people.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141103114144.htm

Blood Test to Diagnose Major Depression in Adults

        Scientists are now able to diagnose adults with major depression by conducting a blood test. This blood test can also determine whether individuals that are diagnosed with depression will be able to benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy, or whether another approach to dealing with depression is necessary. The results of the therapy will also be detectable through a follow-up blood test, to show if the therapy is actually helping those diagnosed with depression.

    This study was conducted with patients from Northwestern medical clinics. There were thirty-two patients that had already been diagnosed with depression from a clinician and thirty-two participants where were never depressed. Before cognitive-behavioral therapy had begun with depressed patients, all of the patients were given a blood test and when the results were examined, nine RNA markers in the blood of depressed participants were found to be substantially different than those in the blood of non-depressed participants. When new blood work was done for patients with depression, after being in therapy for eighteen weeks, it was discovered that subjects who were in remission from depression had changed RNA markers and those who were still depressed had markers that remained the same. 

    The pattern of the markers were also distinctly different between those who were benefited by the therapy and those were still considered depressed after the therapy. However, there were three markers that did not change at all in those that were depressed and were no longer considered depressed at the end of the study. Eva Redei, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University, who also developed the blood test, argues that, "These three markers move us towards the ultimate goal of identifying predisposition to depression, even in the absence of a current depressive episode"[1]. Redei wants to further her research to determine if it is possible to tell the difference between major depression and bipolar depression using RNA blood markers. 

[1] Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140917121229.htm

The Science Daily article can be found at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140917121229.htm 

The Full Journal Article: "Blood transcriptomic biomarkers in adult primary care patients with major depressive disorder undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy"

   
   

Un Poco Loci: Genetic Ties to Mental Disorders

In their efforts to better understand and more accurately diagnose mental conditions, a recent article from disabilityscoop.com states that researchers discovered that there may be a close genetic link between several psychiatric disorders in what they refer to as genetic “risk factors.” Specifically, the targeted psychiatric disorders included autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia.

After analyzing the genomes of more than 30,000 people each with one of the these five psychiatric disorders, and almost 28,000 people with no mental health issues, scientists found that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at four loci displayed variations seen in people with the five psychiatric conditions.

Scientists say knowing that these psychiatric conditions share genetic risk factors could help doctors better diagnose  and treat these conditions.

“Our results provide new evidence that may inform a move beyond descriptive syndromes in psychiatry and towards classification based on underlying causes,” said Jordan Smoller of Massachusetts General Hospital who worked on the study."

More information on the actual study can be found at The Lancet.

What I find fascinating about this article is that from outside of the view of genetics these disorders already seem to have some relations to one another. If you have ever met a person with any of these disorders you may see certain parallels in their expressions that mimic other mental disorders. Probably the most obvious at least to myself, would be the sense of confusion all must feel. But to now see these disorders are displayed on shared loci give us a bigger picture on the smallest of scales of genetic disposition rather than just a “loose screw”.