Scientists research gene linked to depression

An Associated Press article about a new study that has identified a gene that plays a central role in either protecting from stress or contributing to depression, depending on its level of activity in a part of the brain associated with motivation, pleasure and reward-seeking, interviews David Dietz, associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who said little was known previously about the biological basis of depression in the brain. “We’re starting to really get an idea of what does the depressed brain look like,” he said. “When you put the whole puzzle together, you see where the problem is…. For the first time this is one of those bigger pieces you can slide into the jigsaw puzzle.” The article appeared in news outlets that include the Baltimore Sun, Denver Post, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Miami Herald and Sacramento Bee.

Read more:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-depression-gene-20170712-story.html

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/30/maryland-scientists-research-gene-linked-depression/

http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/maryland-scientists-research-gene-linked-to-depression/article_670d6e87-b3e0-5626-be6a-48b3847bc6ee.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article164434922.html

http://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article164434922.html