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Advanced Neurology Depression and its risk factors in India

A B

Figure 3. Genetic variants in India. (A): Map of India representing the genetic variants found across states. (B): PPI network downloaded from the string
database.

of the C677T variant of MTHFR with depression 11,99,100 ; revolutionized contemporary understandings of
however, an association could not be found. This suggests genetic disorders, especially neurological ones. These
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two possibilities: either there truly is no association modifications are crucial for research on depression
or the sample sizes in these studies may have been too treatments, neuroplasticity, and antidepressant responses,
small to detect significant associations. To overcome and may serve as biomarkers. Early-life stress can induce
such challenges, a meta-analysis that involves pooling epigenetic changes, increasing vulnerability to depression.
data across studies could provide a more robust answer. Although much research has focused on the relationship
Therefore, this area warrants further investigation. of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and micro

Understanding how diseases progress involves finding RNAs (miRNAs) with depression, research on long non-
the most connected gene or point in the network of genes coding RNAs is ongoing, emphasizing the need for further
and proteins. Changes to peripheral genes can affect investigation into their interactions with miRNAs and
more central genes. To determine which genes are the target messenger RNAs. 104
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most significantly associated with the studied gene, the Notably, there is a paucity of epigenetic research
researchers used String v11, a tool for protein interaction focused on the Indian population. A study by Prabu et
(PPI) that collects data from various online databases al. found that Indian patients with Type 2 diabetes with
(String-db. Org/). Metascape was used for quality control depression had elevated levels of miRNA-128 and cortisol,
and association analysis (Metascape). The researchers a reduced BDNF, and shorter telomeres, indicating
focused on terms with a p < 0.01, a minimum count of 3, significant neuroendocrine changes. In addition,
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and an enrichment factor >1.5. After utilizing String v11, Rawat et al. discovered a trend toward decreased global
a PPI was created (Figure 3B). The PPI showed BDNF DNA methylation in Indian individuals with depression,
to have a maximum number of edges (n = 4) and a PPI particularly those with suicidal ideation, although this
enrichment p < 0.0043. In addition, BDNF was also found trend did not reflect statistical significance. 106
to be strongly associated with migraines, along with suicide
ideation and severe depression (Figure 4). Epigenetics, Although current studies are not solely focused on
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which involves mechanisms such as histone modification, depression and some findings have been statistically non-
CpG island methylation, and RNA interference, has significant, they highlight the critical need for broader
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Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025) 41 doi: 10.36922/an.5940