A genetic risk factor for major depression and suicidal ideation is mitigated by physical activity

Marcus K Taylor; Shiloh E Beckerley; Nicole E Henniger; Lisa M Hernández; Gerald E Larson; Douglas A Granger

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.002

A genetic risk factor for major depression and suicidal ideation is mitigated by physical activity

Psychiatry Res. 2017 Mar:249:304-306. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.002. Epub 2017 Jan 20.

Authors

Marcus K Taylor¹, Shiloh E Beckerley², Nicole E Henniger², Lisa M Hernández³, Gerald E Larson², Douglas A Granger⁴

Affiliations

¹ Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106-3521, USA; School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, ENS Building, Room 351, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA; Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, USA, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. Electronic address: marcus.k.taylor2.civ@mail.mil.
² Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106-3521, USA.
³ Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106-3521, USA; School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, ENS Building, Room 351, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
⁴ Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, USA, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

PMID: 28142104
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.002

Abstract

We evaluated associations of five candidate polymorphisms (Bcl1 [rs41423247], -2C/G [rs2070951], COMT [rs737865], Val66Met [rs6265], and 5HTTLPR [biallelic and triallelic [5HTTLPR/rs25531]) with probable MDD and suicidal ideation (SI), the effects of physical activity on these endpoints, and whether physical activity attenuates genetic risk in military members (N=736). C carriers who were also less physically active were 3.3 times as likely to meet criteria for probable MDD and 9.6 times as likely to endorse SI as compared to physically active GG carriers. An adequate dose of physical activity diminishes risk of MDD and SI imposed by a genetic predisposition.

Keywords: Exercise; Polymorphism; Suicide.

Published by Elsevier B.V.

MeSH terms

Adult
Depressive Disorder, Major / genetics*
Depressive Disorder, Major / prevention & control
Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
Exercise / physiology*
Exercise / psychology
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
Genetic Predisposition to Disease / psychology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Risk Reduction Behavior*
Suicidal Ideation*