Researchers have pinpointed a gene module comprising 256 genes that exhibit significant correlation with both depression and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This discovery holds promise for the identification of new joint biomarkers for these conditions, potentially paving the way for the development of treatments targeting both simultaneously.
Depression and CVD represent pressing challenges to global health, affecting millions worldwide. Rough estimates suggest that 280 million people suffer from depression, while approximately 620 million are diagnosed with CVD. Previous research has hinted at a potential link between the two, with individuals suffering from depression showing a heightened risk of developing CVD, and vice versa.
While lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and poor dietary habits were previously thought to underpin the association between depression and CVD, the latest research suggests a deeper level of commonality. The study reveals that both conditions share at least one functional gene module.
This gene module, as defined by the authors, comprises a group of genes exhibiting similar expression patterns across various conditions and are likely functionally related. Dr. Binisha H Mishra, the study’s first author and a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University in Finland, explains, “We analyzed the gene expression profiles in the blood of individuals with depression and CVD and identified 256 genes within a single gene module. Their expression levels, either higher or lower than average, indicate a greater risk for both diseases.”
The study draws from the Young Finns Study (YFS), a long-term, multicenter investigation assessing cardiovascular risk factors from childhood to adulthood. The dynamic tree-cutting algorithm applied to the YFS data identified 22 gene modules, with one module, named darkred, demonstrating significant correlation with both CVD and depression markers.
With a correlation coefficient of -0.13 for CVD metrics and a correlation coefficient of 0.09 for depression scores, the darkred gene module emerged as a strong candidate jointly associated with markers of both conditions. This finding supports the bidirectional relationship between depression and CVD.
Published in the journal Frontiers of Psychiatry, the study underscores the growing body of evidence supporting the co/multimorbidity hypothesis of depression and CVD, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to address these complex health challenges.
