Postpartum depression is a subtype of major depressive disorder that affects some new mothers. Scientists led a big study to understand the genetics of PPD.
They found that around 14 percent of PPD cases are influenced by common genetic factors.
This means that PPD is not just caused by things like past experiences; there's a significant genetic component.
More about the research
The study revealed that the genetic makeup of PPD is related to major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
This suggests that the same genes might be involved in these conditions as well.
The researchers discovered that certain genetic regions related to GABAergic neurons are connected to PPD, especially in the thalamus and hypothalamus.
GABAergic neurons control the release of a chemical called GABA in the brain.
Brexanolone, which is an FDA-approved treatment for PPD, is known to affect GABAergic neurons.
Why it's important to know
This new research suggests that brexanolone likely works on GABAergic neurons in the thalamus and hypothalamus.
While this study provided valuable insights into the genetics of PPD, the researchers had limited data to work with.
They used data from different groups of people to reach their conclusions, but more research with larger datasets is needed to pinpoint specific genetic locations linked to PPD risk.
