Clinical depression is a debilitating condition estimated to affect one in six people globally during their lifetime. In the UK, teachers and care professionals have repeatedly flagged a worrying spike in young people impacted by a range of mental health problems, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MDD tends to emerge in young adulthood and often presents as a chronic or recurrent condition, which has led researchers to believe that this illness can have a major impact on societies’ wellbeing and economy.
In a significant new study, an international team of scientists have almost doubled the number of genetic markers thought to be associated with MDD. Led by the University of Edinburgh and King’s College London, the investigation included the largest and most diverse cohort ever studied for genetic markers of MDD. In a field historically over-represented by white, Western European subjects, there is a lack of meaningful data on the effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions outside of these populations.
Given that people diagnosed with depression are 37% more likely than others to pass their condition onto their children, understanding the complex genetic basis for the condition could be crucial for the creation of new, targeted therapies.
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