Maybe your mother had it. Or your uncle or your sister. Watching a family member experience depression can be difficult. Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is the most common form of depression. The Stanford School of Medicine estimates that 10 percent of Americans will experience this type of depression at some point in their lives.
This type is also more likely to be shared by siblings and children. Research has explored the potential connection between genes and depression. Is depression hereditary, or are other factors involved? A British research team isolated a gene that appears to be prevalent in multiple family members with depression. The chromosome 3p was found in more than families with recurrent depression. Scientists believe that as many as 40 percent of those with depression can trace it to a genetic link.
Environmental and other factors may make up the other 60 percent. A person who grows up with someone with depression may be more susceptible to the condition. For example, a child who sees a parent spend days in bed may not think it unusual. Gender may also be a factor. One study found that women had a 42 percent chance of hereditary depression, while men had only a 29 percent chance.
Serotonin levels and depression have also been linked. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The causes of depression are as confounding to researchers as the doctors and mental health professionals who treat it, and perhaps most of all, the million people in the world who have it.
Genetics may indicate a risk for depression , but do not always determine whether a person will develop this all-too-common mental health disorder. There is no "number one cause" of depression, and even more complex is the relationship between genetics, depression, and other known contributing factors. However, having a genetic predisposition to a condition does not always mean you will get it. As far as researchers know, it's the interplay of genes and other factors such as environment and trauma that determine whether someone develops depression.
Some studies have indicated that someone with a first-degree relative diagnosed with depression a parent, sibling, or child could be three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression in their lifetime compared to the general population. Research has demonstrated that genes play a role in the potential risk for many health conditions, including depression.
Studies have suggested there is a heritable component to depression. Heredity is a complex interplay of many factors, not just individual genes.
When studying depression or other health conditions, researchers often look for changes in genes called variants. These changes are classified according to the effect if any they have on the gene. Eye color is an example of how variants affect genes. Changes in certain genes that affect melanin production, as well as several other genes, determine what color your eyes are.
You inherit a combination of genes, each with their own unique variants, from your parents. Families can often predict what color a child's eyes will be by looking to parents and other close relatives, but variants can behave unexpectedly. Heritability is a complex process, even for a seemingly simple trait like eye color. For conditions like depression, research has not yet determined the full implications of genetic variations.
Having a genetic variant can make it more likely—but not definitive—that you will develop a condition associated with that variant. If a gene associated with a specific condition is altered, it may be more or less likely to contribute to the development of that condition. A benign genetic variant is less likely to influence the condition than a pathogenic variant. These variants are referred to as having "unknown significance. Several large genome-wide studies have proposed potential genetic connections to major depressive disorder.
A study published in the journal Nature Genetics identified several genetic variants that appeared to be associated with symptoms of depression and, in some cases, physical differences in the brain. While the research has provided valuable insight into the potential heritability of mental illness, no studies have definitively identified a single gene as the cause of depression. Scientists believe it's more likely that all the different genes and genetic variants each make a small contribution to a person's overall risk.
Research has indicated that genes may be passed down in different ways modes of inheritance , which is another factor that could affect someone's genetic predisposition to depression. Depression can be treated with medication , psychotherapy , and other interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy CBT.
Some people may be prescribed a combination of treatments. Your genes may influence how well a specific treatment works for you. Having a family history of the condition may also increase risk because children can learn styles of thinking from the people around them, says Dattilo. If a child witnesses a parent or sibling struggle with depression, it's possible they might develop a pessimistic outlook on life, which is a risk factor for depression. Since family history can contribute to depression risk in more ways than one, it's important to be aware if you do have family members who have struggled with the condition.
Laura Honos-Webb, PhD, author of Listening to Depression , tells Health that those who do have a family history should try to be extra attentive to their own mood. Having an understanding of what your normal mood is like and being attuned to any changes is key.
If you do notice a change, even if it's minor, consider seeking help. Also, be aware of how family members with depression were treated and how they responded to that treatment. Should someone with a family member who's struggled with depression be worried? Dattilo says not necessarily, but they should be aware.
Like many mental health disorders, depression is genetically complex and is characterized by combinations of many different genetic variants, the researchers say. Maybe even thousands? The size of the new GWAS study will help clinicians to develop polygenic risk scores to pinpoint those most at risk of developing major depression and other related psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, the authors say.
The study also provides deep insights into the underlying biology of genetic disorders. For instance, one gene variant implicated in depression, NEGR1 , is a neural growth regulator active in the hypothalamus, an area of the brain previously linked to depression.
That confirms research done by the late Yale neuroscientist Ronald Duman on the role of neurotrophic factors in depression, Levey said.
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