Childhood abuse may leave gene activity changes linked to depression

Childhood abuse may alter gene activity in some women, raising depression risk, UK Biobank analysis suggests.

The pattern was not seen in men, suggesting the biological links between trauma and depression may differ by sex, an area of interest given higher depression rates among women.

Using data from thousands of people in the UK Biobank, the team analysed childhood experiences, mental health and genetic profiles, focusing on a gene network involved in synaptic function, the way brain cells communicate, which is disrupted in depression.

Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute examined this network and found that, among women who experienced childhood abuse, one configuration was linked to a higher risk of depression.

Senior author Patricia Silveira is professor in McGill’s Department of Psychiatry and researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.

She said: “We know childhood abuse increases the risk of depression at the population level, but at the individual level it’s much harder to predict who will actually develop the disorder.

“Our findings point to a biological mechanism that may help explain who is more at risk, at least in women.”

The work is part of efforts to identify genomic signatures linked to depression risk, which is estimated to affect around 11 per cent of Canadian adults over their lifetime.

Our findings suggest that depression risk is shaped by how genes involved in synaptic function respond to early-life experiences.

That makes synaptic function a promising target for future research,” said co-first author Carla Dalmaz, a visiting professor at the Douglas from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.

“Depression is diagnosed primarily based on reported symptoms, and there are still no widely accepted biological tools in routine clinical practice to identify risk early,” added co-first author Danusa Mar Arcego, a research associate at the Douglas.

“Our findings bring us a step closer to understanding why some people may be more vulnerable, opening the door to earlier support and prevention strategies.”