Scientists Finally Explain Puzzling Link Between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease

Gene expression analysis of blood identifies a functional group of genes linked to both depression and cardiovascular disease.
Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) pose significant challenges to global health. An estimated 280 million individuals globally suffer from depression, and around 620 million are affected by CVD. Research since the 1990s has highlighted a connection between these two conditions. For instance, individuals with depression are at a higher risk of developing CVD, and early and effective treatment of depression can reduce the risk of CVD by 50%. Similarly, those diagnosed with CVD often experience depression. For these reasons, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises to monitor teenagers with depression for CVD.