Genetic Risks for Depression Differ Between Ancestral Groups

A large genome-wide association study in East Asians uncovers novel genetic links to depression, calling attention to the consequences of underrepresentation of non-European groups in genetic research data.

Chloe Tenn

| 4 min read

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Depression affects almost 300 million people globally, and is considered a leading cause of disability by the World Health Organization. As with many diseases, studies that have searched for genetic variations associated with depression have been conducted primarily in people of European ancestry, and there is limited data available on genes linked to depression in non-European ancestry groups. Finding such genetic variations can not only help in assessing individuals’ likelihood of developing depression, but potentially provide insight into how to treat the mental illness by pinpointing the genes and proteins that underlie it.

Researchers have now conducted the largest genomic study to date on depression in a non-European population, focusing on participants with East Asian ancestry. In a study published on September 29 in JAMA Psychiatry, they reveal that not only were a majority of genetic variants associated with depression in European populations not applicable in ...

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Meet the Author

Chloe Tenn
Chloe Tenn is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where she studied neurobiology, English, and forensic science. Fascinated by the intersection of science and society, she has written for organizations such as NC Sea Grant and the Smithsonian. Chloe also works as a freelancer with AZoNetwork, where she ghostwrites content for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food, energy, and environmental companies. She recently completed her MSc Science Communication from the University of Manchester, where she researched how online communication impacts disease stigma. You can check out more of her work here.
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