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Study Reveals Women Have More Genetic Variants for Depression

10/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Women have twice as many genetic variants linked to major depression as men.
The study by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute analyzed DNA from nearly 500,000 participants across Australia, US, UK, and Netherlands.
It identified 7,000 variants linked to depression in both sexes and 6,000 more unique to women.
Experts say findings could enable sex-specific treatments.
European-ancestry focus limits generalizability.

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Story summary

Women have twice as many genetic variants linked to major depression as men.
The study by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute analyzed DNA from nearly 500,000 participants across Australia, US, UK, and Netherlands.
It identified 7,000 variants linked to depression in both sexes and 6,000 more unique to women.
Experts say findings could enable sex-specific treatments.
European-ancestry focus limits generalizability.