1.
Genetic variants associated with subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism identified through genome-wide analyses.
Okbay, A, Baselmans, BM, De Neve, JE, Turley, P, Nivard, MG, Fontana, MA, Meddens, SF, Linnér, RK, Rietveld, CA, Derringer, J, et al
Nature genetics. 2016;(6):624-33
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Abstract
Very few genetic variants have been associated with depression and neuroticism, likely because of limitations on sample size in previous studies. Subjective well-being, a phenotype that is genetically correlated with both of these traits, has not yet been studied with genome-wide data. We conducted genome-wide association studies of three phenotypes: subjective well-being (n = 298,420), depressive symptoms (n = 161,460), and neuroticism (n = 170,911). We identify 3 variants associated with subjective well-being, 2 variants associated with depressive symptoms, and 11 variants associated with neuroticism, including 2 inversion polymorphisms. The two loci associated with depressive symptoms replicate in an independent depression sample. Joint analyses that exploit the high genetic correlations between the phenotypes (|ρ^| ≈ 0.8) strengthen the overall credibility of the findings and allow us to identify additional variants. Across our phenotypes, loci regulating expression in central nervous system and adrenal or pancreas tissues are strongly enriched for association.
2.
The brain-derived neurotrophic-factor (BDNF) val66met polymorphism is associated with geriatric depression: a meta-analysis.
Pei, Y, Smith, AK, Wang, Y, Pan, Y, Yang, J, Chen, Q, Pan, W, Bao, F, Zhao, L, Tie, C, et al
American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics : the official publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics. 2012;(5):560-6
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Abstract
Depression has been associated with reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. Genetic association studies of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) in geriatric depression have produced inconsistent results. A meta-analysis of studies was conducted to compare the frequency of the BDNF Val66Met variant between cases with geriatric depression and age-matched controls. A total of five studies involving 523 cases with geriatric depression and 1,220 psychiatrically healthy controls was included. Met allele carriers had an increased risk for geriatric depression when compared to Val/Val homozygotes (P = 0.004, OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.13-1.93). Our findings suggest the BDNF Met allele may confer increased risk for depression as individual age.