Brain scan reports have suggested that a new gene may be responsible for some people being more susceptible to depression.
People having the gene that controls depression have less of gray matter and weaker connections in the mood regulating circuit. This gene may be affecting the amygdala, the portion of the brain that processes the emotion of fear, and cingulated, another part of brain responsible for emotions.The gene responsible for depression codes the chemical messenger of the brain called serotonin transporter. The antidepressants prescribed to depressive patients function as a block for this protein.
When a person inherits a gene it has got two parts, a short version and a long version. The short version of this gene increases the risk of depression by almost two times. New research had found out that this is possible as the short variant of the gene leads to a badly regulated amygdala response and different emotional reactions. This may lead to increased vulnerability to bad moods that finally result in stress and depressions.
While the discovery of the gene by itself is quite recent, the current research is important as it brings to surface exactly how this gene causes depression in people
