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Examining the genetic architecture of depression in and around pregnancy in the ALSPAC study

Safe People

Organisation name

University of Bristol

Organisation sector

Academic Institute

Applicant name(s)

Alex KwongRuxin LuoDr Rebecca PearsonDr Hannah SallisMs Holly Fraser

Safe Projects

Project ID

B3806

Lay summary

Depression is a common and complex disease, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, with heritability estimated to be from 31% to 42%. However, a recent genome-wide association study meta-analysing data on 807,553 individuals from three largest GWAS studies identified 102 independent variants and 269 genes associated with depression. This result suggests that depression is a polygenetic trait and enables researchers to use these polygenic risk scores to investigate how genetic liability for depression manifests over the life course.

Public benefit statement

Further understanding of the aetiology of depression

Latest approval date

07/06/2021