Genetic Component to Seasonal Affective Disorder

 

    Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD is a form of depression related to the change in season. Most people affected by SAD experience a depressive episode during the change from spring and summer to fall and winter. Seasonal affective disorder can be treated through medications and light therapy and symptoms can range from mild to severe depression. 

    As awareness around mental health conditions grows, research into causes and risk factors has also expanded. In 2018 a paper was published in Nature magazine focused on a possible genetic component to seasonal affective disorder. Genetic risk factors for other mental illnesses have been determined through similar genetic analysis. During this study however, researchers did not find one gene statistically significant but concluded there is a stong likelihood that gene ZBTB20 is involved. Researchers determined gene ZBTB20 had the strongest association through he genome-wide analysis. 

New Study Finds Gene that may be Linked to SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a disorder in which those suffering feel their mood begin to dampen during certain months of the year, usually the winter months. Those who suffer from the disorder do not simply feel sad when its cold out, the disorder is actually a form of depression that is brought on by the changing weather and daylight hours.

A team of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco may have found a gene that can be linked to SAD, something that has not been discovered before. The gene may also link disrupted sleep patterns, another ailment those suffering from SAD commonly have. The gene currently being studied is called PERIOD3 (PER3) and in order to test it, a mutated form was injected into mice who were then exposed to alternating light conditions. When their “days” were of a normal length, they behaved normally and when their “days” were shorter, they developed depression-like symptoms (“days” were controlled by the lighting in their environment).

This is significant due to the fact that studies have found mood may be affected by light but this is the first bit of genetic material to back that up.

Personally I view this as a win for those who suffer from SAD because I feel that it is often overlooked. I have a family member who was diagnosed with the disorder and actually undergoes light therapy during the winter because of this. While in most cases the disorder leads to minor forms of depression, it can also be very serious. Discovering a gene that may genetically prove the disorder exists in my opinion has the power to influence those who suffer from it to get help and those who brush it off to take it more seriously.