New Irish research suggests that stressful life events lead to genetic changes in the body that significantly increase the risk of depression.

The research by scientists at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) centres on epigenetics - an area of research that looks at how environmental factors, such as deprivation and childhood abuse, affects genetic expression in the body.

Their findings, which were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggest that stressful life events significantly increase the risk of depression later in life. This is linked to changes in genetic expression that only occur if a person is exposed such an event.

"Although functional changes that occur this way do not alter the all-important DNA code, they do alter the way our bodies follow the ‘recipes' it writes. What is especially interesting is that these changes can be passed on to children," TCD said.

The scientists' work included a major review of epigenetic research centering on depression. As a result of their findings, they believe that patient-specific epigenetic profiles could be used to diagnose and treat depression.

"Recent research shows that depressed patients have a different epigenetic profile compared with control subjects. What is particularly interesting is that any epigenetic changes that result from stressful events can also be passed on through subsequent generations," noted Dr Victoria Dalton of TCD's Institute of Neuroscience.

She emphasised that the scientists are ‘seeking to combat depression, which is such a terrible, debilitating disease for so many people'.

"These findings give some hope that if we are able to reverse or bring about compensatory epigenetic changes, we might be on the right path to developing successful antidepressant therapies," Dr Dalton added.

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