Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 8: In a groundbreaking advancement for mental health research, Australian scientists have uncovered sex-specific genetic differences in how depression manifests in females and males — a discovery that could revolutionize the way depression is diagnosed and treated.
Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study was conducted by researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and marks the largest global study to date exploring the genetic underpinnings of depression by sex.
The researchers found that genetic factors contribute more significantly to depression in females than in males. They identified 13,000 genetic variations linked to depression, including 7,000 shared across both sexes and an additional 6,000 unique to females.
“We already know that women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression as men during their lifetime,” said Dr. Brittany Mitchell, Senior Researcher at QIMR Berghofer’s Genetic Epidemiology Lab. “But until now, little was known about the role of genetics in these sex-based differences.”
The study involved DNA analysis from hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide, including approximately 130,000 women and 65,000 men with diagnosed depression. Crucially, the genetic differences identified are inherited, not caused by life events or environmental factors.
One of the study's key revelations is that females with depression are more genetically prone to metabolic symptoms, such as fluctuations in weight and energy levels — traits that often accompany depressive episodes.
“We observed a stronger overlap between genetic risk for depression and metabolic traits in women,” explained Dr. Jodi Thomas, co-author of the study. “This may help explain why some symptoms present differently in females, such as changes in appetite or fatigue.”
This research has significant clinical implications. Traditionally, medical trials and antidepressant therapies have largely been based on male-focused models, often overlooking how biological sex influences mental health conditions.
The researchers hope their findings will lead to more personalized, sex-specific approaches to treating depression, improving outcomes by tailoring interventions to genetic and biological realities.
“Understanding the genetic distinctions between how depression affects men and women allows us to create more effective, targeted treatments,” Dr. Thomas added.
The study reinforces the urgent need for gender-inclusive research in mental health and other areas of medicine. By unpacking the genetic blueprint of depression, scientists are taking a crucial step toward more precise and inclusive mental health care.