In a groundbreaking study, researchers have finally uncovered the elusive link between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD), revealing that both conditions partly develop from the same gene module. This discovery offers new insights into the shared genetic basis of these two serious public health concerns.
The research team, led by Binisha Mishra, a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University in Finland, identified a “gene module” consisting of 256 functionally related and co-expressed genes that contribute to the development of both depression and CVD. This gene module, which includes genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases, bipolar disorder, and depression, offers new biomarkers for both conditions.
The study analyzed gene expression data in the blood of 899 women and men aged between 34 and 49 years, all participants in the Young Finns longitudinal study. By focusing on the gene expression profile in the blood of people with depression and heart disease, the researchers identified one gene module whose expression at levels higher or lower than average puts individuals at greater risk of both diseases.
The top three genes from this gene module are known to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, bipolar disorder, and depression. These genes are involved in inflammation that is linked to both depression and CVD, providing a genetic explanation for the frequent co-occurrence of these two conditions.