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Depression is a leading cause of disability that affects about 15 per cent of the world’s population.
Through a new study involving five million participants from major global populations, scientists have identified new genetic risk factors for depression – giving hope for new treatments.
The world’s largest and most diverse genetic study into depression revealed nearly 300 previously unknown genetic links.
A total of 100 of the newly discovered genetic variations were identified after people of African, East Asian, Hispanic and South Asian descent were included.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, King’s College London and other institutes studied genetic data from more than five million people in 29 countries.
The findings could offer new insight into depression’s impact on the brain and present possible new targets for treatment.
One in four participants were from non-European ancestries; previous research into the genetics of depression focused primarily on white populations, originally descended from people living in Europe.
Scientists believe therapies developed using genetic approaches may not be effective in other ethnicities, widening health inequalities.
Each genetic variant has a very small effect on the overall risk of developing depression; however, if a person has multiple variants, these small effects can add up, increasing their risk, according to the study.
The research team was able to more accurately predict an individual’s risk of depression by taking into account newly identified variants, the study found.
The team identified a total of 700 variations in the genetic code of individuals linked to the development of depression, almost half of which had never been associated with the condition before, implicating 308 specific genes.
There are huge gaps in our understanding of clinical depression that limit opportunities to improve outcomes for those affected
Professor Andrew McIntosh, University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Clinical Brain Science
The genetic variants were linked to neurons across multiple brain regions, including areas which control emotion, offering new insight into the condition and possible new treatment targets.
Existing drugs pregabalin, used for chronic pain, and modafinil, used for the sleep disorder narcolepsy, could potentially be repurposed to treat depression, although further studies and clinical trials are needed.
The research team, from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, involves scientists from all continents, and studies from South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Australia, Taiwan and China.
“There are huge gaps in our understanding of clinical depression that limit opportunities to improve outcomes for those affected,” says Professor Andrew McIntosh, from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, who co-led the study.
“Larger and more globally representative studies are vital to provide the insights needed to develop new and better therapies, and prevent illness in those at higher risk of developing the condition.”
Professor Cathryn Lewis from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, another study co-lead, says we still have a lot to learn about depression’s biological underpinnings.

The study opens up new ways to translate their findings into better care for people with depression, Lewis adds.
Professor Veena Kumari, cognitive and clinical neuroscience expert at Brunel University of London’s Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, stressed that the findings do not suggest that those with the genetic variants linked to depression will develop the condition.
“The genetic links identified here absolutely do not mean depression is inevitable for some people. Most of the genetic variants identified have only a small effect and confer a vulnerability to depression when there’s environmental stressors and risk factors such as abuse.
“Depression is a common problem, with one in two people likely to experience it at some point in their lifetime. Recovery typically requires a combination of drug and psychological therapies along with lifestyle changes.”
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Genetic links to depression found in big global study, giving hope for new treatments

A study of five million people from a range of racial backgrounds found hundreds of previously unknown genetic variations associated with depression. Photo: Shutterstock

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Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Study of 5 million people of all backgrounds finds variations in hundreds of genes; previous studies were on people of European origin


Study of 5 million people of all backgrounds finds variations in hundreds of genes; previous studies were on people of European origin.


Mental health

Disease

Medicine