Genetic clue to causes of depression revealed

Prof Andrew McIntosh (Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences - Psychiatry), Prof David Porteous (Institute for Genetics & Molecular Medicine) and Prof Ian Deary (Centre for Cognitive Ageing & Cognitive Epidemiology), in collaboration with groups from across the world, have found that a gene (called TOX2) is associated with a diagnosis of depression. The team used tissue samples and data gathered from 20,000 volunteers by the Generation Scotland: The Scottish Family Health Study. A genetic tool called Regional Heritability Mapping (RHM) was used, which can detect small contributions from rare genetic differences that combine to have a large effect, as is often the case in complex diseases. Findings were then confirmed by replicating results using other large genetic and medical data resource banks.