New Findings Reveal Genetic and Cognitive Factors Linked to Depression
New research presented at Neuroscience 2023, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, has revealed key genetic and cognitive factors linked to depression. The findings shed light on genetic variants affecting brain structure in adolescents, enlarged brain regions related to emotion processing indicating potential early intervention targets, and how depression more severely impacts reasoning in older adults.
In addition to these findings, unique epigenetic markers in blood samples of depressed adolescents have been identified, paving the way for more effective and personalized treatments.
More than 8% of adults in the United States suffer from severe depression, with higher percentages among specific groups, including adolescents and older adults. The complexity of depression includes many different genetic components and environmental risk factors, making it crucial for scientists to understand the exact mechanisms in the brain that correspond with the risk or development of depression in order to develop earlier identification and more effective treatment options.
The research presented at Neuroscience 2023 shows that genetic variants seem to correspond with risks for depression as indicated by changes in brain structure in adolescents, with both sex-specific and non-sex-specific variations noted. Additionally, adolescents with depression were found to have increased size of brain areas linked to attention and emotion, suggesting potential biological targets for early intervention. Furthermore, the study indicates that depression has a more pronounced negative impact on reasoning abilities in older adults and identified unique epigenetic signatures in blood samples of adolescents diagnosed with depression.
Diego A. Pizzagalli, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and moderator of the press conference, commented on the significance of the findings, stating, “Identifying brain markers and risk factors for depression gets us closer to diagnosing and treating the disorder more effectively. This research will ultimately allow us to pursue a more targeted approach, especially with regards to early intervention and personalized treatment strategies in vulnerable populations.”
The research was supported by national funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health and private funding organizations.
These findings represent a significant step forward in understanding the genetic and cognitive factors associated with depression and provide hope for the development of more effective treatments in the future.