Reasons why women are at higher risk of depression

Analyzing common and specific genetic factors between the two sexes helps to clarify the cause of the disease and opens up more effective personalized treatment directions.

A new study published on October 8 shows that women are at higher risk of clinical depression than men due to genetic factors.

This discovery is said to be able to change the way this disease is treated in the future. The research was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

A team of experts from the Berghofer Institute for Medical Research (Australia) analyzed the DNA of nearly 200,000 people with depression to identify common “genetic markers”.

This is considered one of the largest-scale studies ever conducted in this field.

Results showed that women had nearly twice as many genetic markers associated with depression as men.

According to researcher Jodi Thomas, analyzing common and unique genetic factors between the two sexes helps clarify the cause of the disease and opens up more effective personalized treatment directions.

Scientists have long known that depression rates are higher in women, but the specific biological causes have not been well understood.

This study found about 13,000 genetic markers linked to depression in women, compared with 7,000 in men.

Some of these changes may affect biological pathways involved in metabolism or hormone production.

“We found some genetic differences that may help explain why women with depression often experience metabolic symptoms, such as changes in weight or energy levels,” added Thomas.

Researcher Brittany Mitchell said the results could lead to changes in the way depression is treated in women.

She emphasized that until now there has not been much consistent research explaining why depression affects men and women differently, including the role of genetic factors, while most current drugs and research still focus on men.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), clinical depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the world, affecting more than 300 million people./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nguyen-nhan-khien-nu-gioi-co-nguy-co-tram-cam-cao-hon-post1068936.vnp