Anxiety and Depression research

Coordinator VUmc: Brenda Penninx and Witte Hoogendijk   

 

The overall aim of the anxiety and depression program of the Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam is to identify genomic regions and gene variants that mediate vulnerability to these affective disorders; to understand this vulnerability at the synaptic and brain systems level; to determine their interaction with age, sex and environmental challenges; and to use this understanding to explain the observed patterns of brain activity of behaving humans. Ongoing research has already linked clinical outcomes to neuroanatomy of post-mortem tissue, autonomic nervous system and HPA-axis function, serum markers such as vitamin D, and inflammation, and functional and structural MRI traits, as well as receptor characteristics obtained from GABA-ergic (flumazenil), dopaminergic (raclopride), and serotonergic PET ligands. By cross-linking these, and other novel endophenotypes to newly detected genetic variants for anxiety and depression the program will uncover part of the actual pathways from ‘molecule to mind’ for these afflictions.  Translational targets are improved diagnostics and prognostics, and stronger evidence-based and personalized therapeutic intervention. The program will provide new insights into pathophysiology of depression and suggest previously unsuspected etiologic pathways for these diseases. This will translate into better care for patients by 1) improving early detection of individuals at risk, which is a critical concern for clinicians, 2) identifying new therapeutic targets, and 3) developing targeted interventions based on genetically defined risk.