Study Finds Women Carry Higher Genetic Risk for Depression

Study Finds Women Carry Higher Genetic Risk for Depression
————————————-
A major new study has found that women carry a higher genetic risk for major depression than men. The research, which claims to be the largest genetic study on sex differences in depression to date, was published in Nature Communications, according to The Guardian.

The study, led by Australia’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, analyzed DNA from nearly 200,000 people diagnosed with major depression across five international cohorts. Researchers identified 16 genetic variants linked to depression specifically in women, compared to only eight in men.

While many depression-related variants are shared between sexes, the findings suggest a “higher burden of genetic risk in females.” This genetic difference may help explain why women are twice as likely to suffer from depression in their lifetime.

Researchers also found a stronger genetic correlation in women between depression and metabolic traits such as body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome. This link suggests genetic differences could explain why females with depression more frequently experience metabolic symptoms like weight changes or altered energy levels. The authors note the findings point toward the future possibility of sex-specific pharmacological treatments for depression.