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Advanced Neurology Depression and its risk factors in India

Figure 4. Significant associations observed between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and diseases (Metascape)

research to uncover the diverse epigenetic mechanisms managing this pervasive mental health condition. These
in depression in the Indian population. These findings investigations have spanned various regions in India and
illustrate the complex role of epigenetic mechanisms in employed a range of diagnostic tools and biochemical
depression and the necessity for more targeted epigenetic techniques to examine markers such as cytokines
studies within this demographic. (interleukin [IL] 1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor),
Understanding the serum markers associated with metabolic indicators (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides),
depression is crucial as they offer insights into the and oxidative stress markers (C-reactive protein,
physiological and biochemical changes underlying the prolidase). It has also been observed that the mean serum
disorder. By studying these markers, researchers can kynurenine level is significantly higher in individuals with
unravel the complex mechanisms involved in MDD, depression and suicidal attempts (464.05 ± 89.11 ng per
potentially leading to improved diagnostic tools and milliliter [ng/mL]) compared with those with depression
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treatment strategies. Numerous research groups have without suicidal attempts (420.78 ± 69.66 ng/mL). The
explored various serum markers among the Indian association of serum markers highlights the complexity of
population to reveal a plethora of potential markers that the depression mechanisms. Studies contribute uniquely
may correlate with depression. 107 Mar kers of depression by elucidating how these markers correlate with both
among Indians include lower serum total cholesterol (TC) depressive symptoms and disease progression (Table 3).
and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels,
along with elevated S100B protein levels. However, 3.4. Comorbidity and depression
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researchers found no significant correlation between lipid Disease-related stress can be easily understood after
levels and depressive symptoms measured using Patient understanding the comorbidity, which is another great
Health Questionnaire-9 in Haryana. Other studies, such thing of concern that needs to be thought about and is
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as those by Varambally et al. and Khalid et al., underscored defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions
the role of markers such as BDNF and TC as potential at the same time. A plethora of research (Table 4) has
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predictors of depression severity. 109,110 Moreover, recent shown that the prime disorder that was found to be
investigations in Puducherry by Dhiman et al. emphasized comorbid with depression is anxiety, which critically
the importance of vitamin B12 levels in PPD, revealing affects every age but specifically in adolescents 114-119
differences in biomarker profiles between affected and studying in a different range of professional courses. 120,121
unaffected women. 111 This is because students have a lot of educational stress, 16,67

Numerous additional studies collectively demonstrate which negatively impacts their lives. Headache, including
the diverse landscape of serum markers implicated migraine, which is known to be the second leading cause
in depression, offering valuable avenues for further of disability, has also been found to be comorbid with
exploration and clinical application in understanding and depression (Figure 5). 113,122

Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025) 42 doi: 10.36922/an.5940