Khaberni - Australian researchers in a study published on Wednesday in the journal "Nature Communications" revealed that women are genetically more susceptible to depression disorders than men, which could change the way this illness is treated.
In this peer-reviewed study, one of the largest ever in the field, scientists analyzed the DNA of nearly 200,000 people suffering from depression to identify common genetic "markers".
According to the project led by the Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, women had nearly twice the number of genetic markers linked to depression compared to men.
Researcher Judy Thomas explained in a statement that "Identifying common and specific genetic factors in men and women allows us to better understand the causes of depression and paves the way for more customized treatments."
The researchers identified about 13,000 genetic markers linked to depression in women, compared to about 7,000 markers in men.
Some of these genetic differences may also affect metabolic processes or hormone production.
Thomas said, "We discovered some genetic differences that may help us understand why women with depression suffer from more metabolic symptoms, such as weight fluctuations or changes in energy levels."
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders globally, affecting more than 300 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Researcher Brittany Mitchell said, "So far, there have not been many reliable studies to explain the differing impact of depression on women and men, including the potential role of genetic factors."
She added, "An increasing number of papers suggest that many of the drugs currently being developed and the research conducted so far primarily focus on men."
