Reviews
Research progress on age-specific epigenetic mechanisms of major depressive disorder
Song Xiaodong, He Jiali, Lyu Sihui, Zhong Shuming, Jia Yanbin
Published 2022-12-05
Cite as Chin J Psychiatry, 2022, 55(6): 469-474. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20220315-00059
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD), is characterized by high incidence rate, high suicide rate, and high disability rate, however, the underlying pathogenesis of MDD is still unclear. Based on the diathesis-stress model of depression, epigenetic mechanisms strongly explain the integration of genes and environment in the development of depression. However, depression has a high degree of clinical heterogeneity, with individuals of different ages presenting different symptoms and epigenetic changes. As a dynamic molecular marker that varies with age and environmental experience, epigenetics helps to elucidate the unique and complex disease pathogenesis of depression at different ages. Therefore, this paper aims to review relevant epigenetic studies of depression at different ages of onset to explore its potential age-specific association mechanism, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of accurate intervention measures for patients with MDD at different ages.
Key words:
Depressive disorder; Age factors; Biological markers; Epigenetic
Contributor Information
Song Xiaodong
Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China
He Jiali
Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China
Lyu Sihui
Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China
Zhong Shuming
Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China
Jia Yanbin
Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China