Major depressive disorder may be linked to gene variant involved in brain function

Written by Roisin Conneely

Researchers in China have discovered a variant of the gene SLC6A15, which appears to affect brain function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The gene encodes a neutral amino acid transporter, distributed throughout the brain, and is thought to be involved in regulating transmission of glutamate, ultimately affecting functions such as memory and attention span. The team examined 67 patients experiencing their first occurrence of MDD, along with 44 healthy individuals, through a combination functional MRI and genotyping techniques. Brain activity was measured according to levels of regional homogeneity and results were analyzed in order to demonstrate how genotype...

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