Scientists have discovered important information about the source and potential treatment of depression. A new study from a Cambridge, MA group including researchers from Pfizer, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the University of Pennsylvania found 15 locations in genetic code that appear to be sources for depression.
The information is a result of analysis of over 100,000 23andMe participants who were diagnosed or treated for depression, plus over 300,000 others in total. This is one of, if not the largest findings from 23andMe data to date.
Information like this is a first step toward better diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in the future. Researchers believe learning more about what’s going on in these 15 locations will help them determine the real causes of depression, which of course could lead to better treatment or a cure.