Genetic differences could explain why women suffer from depression twice as often

A groundbreaking international study has revealed striking genetic differences in how women and men experience depression, and could help explain why the rate of diagnosis of the condition in women is almost twice that of men.

BREAKTHROUGH IN SKIN DNA COULD ALLOW WOMEN AT 60 TO HAVE GENETICALLY LINKED CHILDREN

The research, published in Nature Communications and led by scientists at the QIMR Berghofer Institute of Medical Research in Australia, found that genetic factors play a greater role in women’s risk of depression. Researchers found nearly twice as many genetic “flags” linked to depression in women as in men.

The study found about 13,000 DNA changes linked to depression in women. (iStock)

“We already know that women are twice as likely to experience depression over their lifetime as men,” said Dr. Brittany Mitchell, principal investigator in the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer.

“And we also know that depression looks very different from person to person. Until now, there hasn’t been a lot of consistent research to explain why depression affects women and men differently, including the possible role of genetics.”

DNA TEST REVEALS WHICH CHILDREN ARE MORE AT RISK OF OBESITY AS ADULTS

The team analyzed genetic data from hundreds of thousands of people, including about 130,000 women and 65,000 men suffering from depression. They identified about 7,000 DNA changes linked to depression in both sexes, as well as another 6,000 genetic variations unique to women, for a total of about 13,000 changes.

Scientists have discovered almost twice as many genes linked to depression in women as in men. (iStock)

“For me, finding out that there are potentially more genetic indicators of depression in women than in men… was surprising,” Mitchell told Fox News Digital.

“I expected that the same genetic indicators would influence depression in both sexes… So finding out that that wasn’t really the case and that women had almost twice as many genetic indicators as men was an interesting finding.”

YOUR DAILY SANDWICH COULD MAKE YOU SAD AND ANXIOUS, HEALTH EXPERTS WARN

The study also showed that genes linked to depression in women overlap more heavily with those linked to metabolic traits, which may help explain why women with depression often experience symptoms such as weight changes or altered energy levels.

The changes in DNA identified by scientists are genetic differences that people are born with, not changes due to life experiences.

These results could pave the way for more personalized treatments for depression. (iStock)

Traditionally, most drug trials and therapies are tested on men, but those involved in the study hope their work will translate into a better clinical understanding of female depression.

Mitchell said the key takeaway is that genetic, and therefore biological, differences contribute to the observed differences in depression between the sexes.

MORE IN HEALTH NEWS

“Our research has shown the importance and value of considering gender in health research,” she added. “We hope this will serve as an example for other research.”

While the study focused on participants of European ancestry, the team hopes to expand their work to more diverse populations.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“It will be very important for future research to also include a wider variety of other populations to determine whether our findings are also applicable to other populations,” Mitchell said.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“Knowledge is power.…Share this information with your friends and family.…Recognizing these differences is the first step toward more equitable care.”