A new study led by Dr. Roy Perlis, Associate Director of the psychiatric genetics program in mood and anxiety disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of Genomind’s scientific advisory board, and recently published in Nature Genetics, found that there are 15 locations in our DNA that are associated with depression. This study showed a correlation between genes that may be involved in depression and in the development of neurons in the brain.
“We hope these findings help people understand that depression is a brain disease with its own biology,” said Dr. Perlis. “Now comes the hard work of using these new insights to try to develop better treatments.”
This discovery demonstrates the effect that DNA has on mental illness and will help pave the way for more effective treatment, including the use of genetic testing to assist in determining personalized treatment plans for each patient.
Read more in The Washington Post.
