Most people who have depression also have anxiety. And vice versa.
Although, at a gut level, it makes sense (after all, if you’re extraordinarily anxious about something, it makes sense that might lead to depression), researchers haven’t been able to figure out if there’s a genetic link between comorbid anxiety and depression.
But now they’re starting to understand more, thanks to a new study.
From Yale.Edu:
“A massive genome-wide analysis of approximately 200,000 military veterans has identified six genetic variants linked to anxiety, researchers from Yale and colleagues at other institutions report Jan. 7 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Some of the variants associated with anxiety had previously been implicated as risk factors for bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.
The new study further contributes the first convincing molecular explanation for why anxiety and depression often coexist.
“This is the richest set of results for the genetic basis of anxiety to date,” said co-lead author Joel Gelernter of Yale, the Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry, professor of genetics and of neuroscience. “There has been no explanation for the comorbidity of anxiety and depression and other mental health disorders, but here we have found specific, shared genetic risks.”
Some variants were linked to genes that help govern gene activity or, intriguingly, to a gene involved in the functioning of receptors for the sex hormone estrogen. While this finding might help explain why women are more than twice as likely as men to suffer from anxiety disorders, researchers stressed that the variant affecting estrogen receptors was identified in a veteran cohort made up mostly of men, and said further investigation is necessary.
Another of the newly discovered anxiety gene variants, MAD1L1, whose function is not fully understood, was also highly notable. Variants of this gene have already been linked to bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.”
Painting: Untitled by Monica Rahen
