A recent scientific study conducted by a research team from the Berghoffer Medical Research Institute in Australia reveals that genetic factors make women more susceptible to depression than men, potentially opening the door for the development of psychological treatments that take into account biological differences between the sexes.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, analyzed genetic data from nearly 200,000 individuals suffering from depression, making it one of the largest genetic studies ever conducted on this mental health disorder worldwide.
Analyzes showed that women carry twice the number of genetic markers associated with depression compared to men, identifying approximately 13,000 markers in women versus 7,000 in men. Researchers suggest that this genetic disparity may be behind the various metabolic symptoms experienced by women, such as weight disorders and fluctuations in energy levels.
Dr. Judy Thomas, a co-author of the study, stated that this discovery represents an important step toward a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind depression in women, aiding in the development of more precise and effective targeted therapies. Researcher Brittany Mitchell added that previous studies and current medications often focus mainly on men, underscoring the necessity of these findings to bridge a long-standing gap in understanding the nature of the disease in women.
