A groundbreaking study has identified 697 genetic variants associated with depression, including nearly 300 previously unknown variants. The research suggests existing drugs could be repurposed to treat depression, offering hope for more effective treatments.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying 697 genetic variants linked to depression, nearly 300 of which were previously unknown. This large-scale international study, involving researchers from the University of Edinburgh, King's College London, and Australia, analyzed genetic samples from 685,000 individuals with major depression and compared them to over 4 million people without the illness.
The findings provide valuable insights into the biological underpinnings of depression and open up new possibilities for treatment. Dr. Brittany Mitchell, a scientist at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, described the study as the world's largest ever conducted on the genetics of depression. 'What this study's allowed us to do is better understand the biological pathways that are involved in depression and from that we've been able to identify drugs that are used to treat other conditions that target those same biological pathways,' said Dr. Mitchell.The research suggests that existing medications, including several anti-cancer therapies and drugs used to manage daytime sleepiness, pain, and anxiety, could potentially be repurposed to treat depression. Dr. Mitchell emphasized the excitement surrounding this possibility, as it could significantly improve treatment options for a large number of individuals. 'We know these drugs work on the same pathways, but we do need further research to actually test whether that would influence someone's risk of having depression,' she acknowledged. Currently, only about one-third of people with depression respond to antidepressants, highlighting the urgent need for more effective treatments. This discovery offers hope for developing new drugs or matching patients with treatments more effectively based on their genetic profiles.Dr. Mitchell envisions a future where genetic testing could be used to both prevent and treat depression. While this stage is not yet reached, the study's findings pave the way for significant advancements in mental health care. The study's participants hailed from 29 different countries, with a quarter from non-European backgrounds, ensuring a diverse representation of the population. This diversity strengthens the study's findings and their applicability to a global audience. Professor John McGrath, a renowned psychiatric researcher from Queensland Brain Institute, commended the study as 'impressive,' adding to the growing body of knowledge about the genetic predictors of depression. The research underscores the biological basis of mental health conditions, emphasizing that they are as real and treatable as physical illnesses. The findings also shed light on the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors in the development of depression, highlighting the need for holistic approaches to treatment and prevention
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