Researchers confirm genetic link between depression and common gut disorder

“Using genetic analysis you can look at that more closely, and our analysis suggests there is definitely a relationship there.”

Peptic ulcers had been thought to be caused solely by stress for many years, until Nobel prize-winning work by Australian researchers Barry Marshall and Robin Warren identified a link to the bacteria H. pylori.

Professor Wray says the new results do not invalidate that work, but demonstrates that there is not just one factor that leads to a disease manifesting, and that the real picture is far more complex.

“The key thing that came out in our genetic analysis of peptic ulcer disease is demonstrating that there’s host factors, things in our genetics, which make some people more susceptible to the bacteria,” she said.

“And our analysis suggests there is some sort of relationship between these mental health disorders and peptic ulcer disease.”

Lead author on the research, UQ PhD candidate and medical doctor Yeda Wu, said while medicines had been able to treat peptic ulcers by focusing on the bacteria, the importance of other risk factors including lifestyle and psychological factors now needed to be re-emphasised.

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“As a medical student, I noticed how some patients’ gastrointestinal symptoms improved after psychotherapy or psychiatry treatment,” Dr Wu said.

“This study linking major depression with an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders also explains the co-morbidity of the conditions.”

Professor Wray said the research pointed the way to potential new treatments for people suffering from peptic ulcers, which can affect up to 10 per cent of the Australian population.

“Access to vast health and genomic data sets allows researchers to advance understanding of many complex diseases and traits,” she said.

“Resources such as the UK Biobank have made it possible to now study the genetic contribution to common diseases, such as peptic ulcer disease, and understand the risks more fully.

“If we can provide genetic risk scores to patients, it could be part of a prevention program to help reduce the rates of peptic ulcer disease.”

The researchers studied health data from 456,327 individuals from the UK Biobank and identified eight genetic variations associated with the risk of getting peptic ulcer disease.

Six of the eight variations can be linked to why some people are more prone to H. pylori infection, which would make them more susceptible to peptic ulcer disease.