Global study pinpoints genes for depression across ethnicities
New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified across all major global populations for the first time, allowing scientists to predict risk of depression regardless of ethnicity. The world’s largest and most diverse genetic study ever of major depression has revealed nearly 300 previously unknown genetic links to the condition.
The research has uncovered nearly 300 new genetic factors linked to depression, making it the most diverse and comprehensive genetic study ever conducted on this condition. These findings are significant because they include individuals from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds—such as African, East Asian, Hispanic, and South Asian populations—helping to identify genetic factors relevant to people across the globe, not just those of European descent. This research also shows that these genetic variants are associated with brain cells that control emotions, offering new insights into how depression affects the brain.
Potential for more effective treatment for depression
These results are crucial because they provide a more inclusive understanding of depression’s genetic basis, addressing a major gap in previous studies that mostly focused on people of European ancestry. By including diverse populations, we can now more accurately predict an individual’s risk for depression, regardless of their ethnicity. This has the potential to lead to more effective, personalized treatments for depression, reducing the existing health inequalities caused by previous research biases. Furthermore, our study identifies new targets for potential treatments, which could lead to more effective therapies for people worldwide.
Genetic data from over 5 million people
The research team from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium involved scientists from all continents, including studies from South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, the USA, Australia, Taiwan and China which together analyzed genetic data from over 5 million people across 29 countries. The dataset was diverse, with one in four participants coming from non-European ancestries. The focus was on small differences in DNA that can influence a person’s susceptibility to depression. The results revealed nearly 700 genetic factors linked to depression, with almost half of them being previously unknown. Now over 300 genes are implicated as involved in the development of depression.
Future clinical trials
The next step in our research is to further explore the potential of repurposing existing medications for treating depression. For instance, our findings suggest two drugs—pregabalin (used for chronic pain) and modafinil (used for narcolepsy)—that could be effective in treating depression based on our findings. However, before these drugs can be widely used for depression, more clinical trials are necessary to test their safety and efficacy in treating depression specifically. Additionally, the group will continue to study how these genetic variants affect brain function to better understand the biology of depression and develop new, more targeted treatments.
"We are very pleased that more than 5,000 individuals from Sweden with specialist-diagnosed major depression have uniquely contributed to this global effort”, says Lu Yi, Principal Researcher and responsible for the Swedish part of the study. She continues; “This truly represent a major advancement in understanding the biology behind the mental illness that affects so many”.
Working together in an international team of scientists, in this case led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and King’s College London, strengthens the possibilities to move forward in this important research field. The team at Karolinska Institutet further consisted of Shuyang Yao, Ying Xiong, Arvid Harder, Patrik Magnusson, Mikael Landén, Patrick Sullivan at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jens Hjerling-Leffler at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics and Christian Rück at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience.
The international research team, including researchers at Karolinska Institutet have published their findings in Cell.
This news article is based on a press release from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium.
Publication
Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (Mark J. Adams et al), Cell, online 14 January 2025, doi 10.1016/j.cell.2024.12.002.