Study: Women Have Twice as Many Depression-Linked Genes

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#Women's health

Study: Women Have Twice as Many Depression-Linked Genes

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Above: A couple sits on a bench in Munich, Germany, on Oct. 8, 2025. Image copyright: Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Comprehensive genetic analysis of over 290,000 people reveals real sex-specific differences in depression risk. Women show higher SNP-based heritability, distinct polygenic patterns and unique genetic architecture, with thousands of female-only DNA variants. These findings highlight genuine biological susceptibility while reminding us that depression reflects biology, not personal weakness, and calls for understanding, compassion and support.

Nature Psyche

Narrative B

Depression reporting differences between men and women reflect diagnostic bias, not genetic predisposition. Men experience severe depression and suicide at higher rates because mild depression goes undiagnosed due to masculine coping styles and symptom presentation that doesn't match current criteria. The focus should be on improving male depression recognition rather than assuming women are genetically more susceptible.

Frontiers

Establishment-critical narrative

The idea that depression is rooted in biology is a lie. Nature shows there are no reliable DNA or biological markers distinguishing depressed from non-depressed people, yet millions are medicated based on questionnaires, not science. Psychiatry has turned human suffering into a drug-driven industry, masking life’s real problems — stress, isolation, and broken relationships — instead of addressing root causes. True solutions require personal responsibility, community and holistic care.

Chief Nerd on X

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