NIMHANS study identifies DNA methylation markers for early detection of postpartum depressive symptoms

NIMHANS study identifies DNA methylation markers predicting postpartum depression risk in early pregnancy, aiding early intervention.

A study by researchers from NIMHANS has identified a panel of novel DNA methylation makers that can help predict the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms in early stages of pregnancy. The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders on April 24.

Perinatal depression, which includes both prenatal (during pregnancy) and postpartum (after childbirth) depression, affects a substantial proportion of women and can have long-lasting effects on both mother and child. It often manifests as persistent sadness, low energy, anxiety, and disrupted sleep and appetite patterns.

The study, led by Kuppan Gokulakrishnan, Associate Professor of Neurochemistry at NIMHANS, is a collaborative effort with researchers from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Seethapathi Clinic in Chennai, and the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. The team focused on epigenetic changes, specifically DNA methylation (a biological process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule - the levels of which help predict diseases) as potential early indicators of depressive symptoms. This study was funded by the DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance.

Dr. Gokulakrishnan said there are currently no blood-based biomarkers available to identify postpartum depressive symptoms at an early stage of pregnancy. “Therefore, our discovery allows for earlier intervention, which can help reduce the harmful effects of depression. Our findings open up the possibility of a simple blood test during early pregnancy that could help identify women at risk, allowing for timely intervention and support,” he said.

Early detection could lead to personalised, preventive strategies in maternal mental health care and reduce the long-term emotional and developmental toll on both mothers and children, he said.

The study involved 201 pregnant women with no prior history of depressive disorders, recruited from the STratification of Risk of Diabetes in Early Pregnancy (STRiDE) study. “Participants were screened for antenatal depressive symptoms, and blood samples were analysed using the advanced Infinium Methylation EPIC array. This revealed 591 methylation markers significantly associated with antenatal depressive symptoms. From this data, a panel of seven methylation markers was identified using machine learning as a robust biomarker panel capable of distinguishing depressed women from controls with high sensitivity and specificity,” the author explained.

“Remarkably, this same panel was also able to predict postpartum depressive symptoms with impressive accuracy. The predictive power increased further when combined with patient-reported data. This is a significant leap forward in our understanding of the biological underpinnings of perinatal depression,” said Dr. Gokulakrishnan.