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For the large-scale study, scientists searched the DNA of nearly 200,000 people with depression to identify corresponding genetic “flags.”
Women were found to have almost twice as many genetic components linked to depression as men. “We now have a clearer picture of the causes of depression,” said researcher Jodi Thomas of the Berghofer Medical Research Institute. “That opens the door to more personalized treatments.”
It has long been known that depression is more common in women, but the biological causes have been a mystery. “We found genetic differences that may help explain why women with depression are more likely to experience metabolic symptoms, such as weight changes or altered energy levels,” said Thomas.
