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A major international study revealed striking genetic differences in how women and men Try depressionAnd this can help explain why women are diagnosed with the condition at almost double the speed of men.
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The study published in Nature Communications and led by scientists at the Qimr Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia found that this Genetic factors Play a greater role in the risk of depression for women. Researchers have discovered almost twice as much genetic “flags” related to depression in women than men.
The study found about 13,000 changes in DNA related to depression in women. (Istock)
“We already know that women are twice as much to suffer from depression through their lives than men,” says Dr. Brittany Mitchell, a senior researcher at the Qimr Berghofer Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory.
“And we also know that depression seems very different from one person to another. So far, there have not been many consistent studies to explain why depression affects women and men differently, including the possible role of genetics.”
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The team analyzes the genetic data of hundreds of thousands of people, including about 130,000 women and 65,000 men diagnosed with depression. They identified approximately 7,000 changes in DNA related to depression in both sexes and another 6,000 genetic variations unique to women for a total of about 13,000 changes.
Scientists have discovered almost twice as many genes associated with depression in women than men. (Istock)
“For me, the discovery that there is a potential more genetic flags for depression in women than men … It was surprising,” Mitchell told Fox News Digital.
“I expected that the same genetic flags would affect depression in both sexes … So to find that this is not really the case and that women have almost twice as much genetic flags than men is an interesting find.”
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The study also showed that depression-related genes in women overlap more strongly with those linked to metabolic features, which can help explain why women with depression often experience symptoms such as changes in weight or changed energy levels.
Changes in DNA that scientists have identified are genetic differences with which people are born, not changes that occur due to life experience.
The findings can make the way for more personalized treatments for depression. (Istock)
Traditionally, most drug tests and therapies are tested on men, but those involved in the study hope that their work will become a more clinical understanding of female depression.
Mitchell said the key extraction is that differences in genetics and therefore biology contribute to the differences observed in gender depression.
“Our research showed the importance and value of having sex in health research,” she added. “We hope this gives an example of Other studies To follow. “
While the study focuses on participants in the European ancestry, the team hopes to expand their work to a more diverse population.
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“For future research, it will be really important to include a larger variety of other populations to determine whether our discoveries are applicable to other populations,” Mitchell said.
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“Knowledge is power … Share this information with your friends and family … Recognizing these differences is the first step to more just care.”
