Depression affects around 280 million people worldwide, with women consistently showing higher rates than men. This gap becomes noticeable during adolescence, sparking curiosity about why teenage girls are more vulnerable to depression than boys. A groundbreaking study from King’s College London, published in Biological Psychiatry on March 24, 2025, offers fresh insight into this issue by spotlighting a biological mechanism: the kynurenine pathway. This article explores the study’s findings, shedding light on teen depression, mental health, and the brain chemistry behind this gender disparity.
What Is the Kynurenine Pathway?
The kynurenine pathway is a critical process in the body that breaks down tryptophan, an amino acid essential for producing serotonin, a chemical that regulates mood, sleep, and emotional well-being. This pathway can follow two routes:
- Protective Route: Creates kynurenic acid, a substance that safeguards brain cells from harm.
- Harmful Route: Produces quinolinic acid, a compound that can damage brain cells.
When this pathway is disrupted, it can tilt the balance toward harmful substances, potentially increasing the risk of depression—especially in adolescent girls.
The Study: Unpacking the Research
Conducted by experts at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, the study examined blood samples from 150 Brazilian teens aged 14 to 16. Researchers measured levels of kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid in three groups:
- Low-Risk Teens: Those unlikely to develop depression.
- High-Risk Teens: Those with a greater chance of depression.
- Depressed Teens: Those already diagnosed with depression.
Over three years, the team tracked these adolescents to observe changes in their mental health. The findings were clear:
- Teens with depression or at high risk had lower kynurenic acid levels than their low-risk peers.
- This drop was more significant in girls, pointing to a gender-specific vulnerability in brain chemistry.
Why Teenage Girls Face Greater Risk
The research suggests that reduced kynurenic acid—a protective brain shield—plays a key role in depression, with teenage girls showing a stronger link to this imbalance. Experts propose that girls may be biologically more sensitive to disruptions in the kynurenine pathway. The study also found that inflammation, often triggered by stress or illness, boosts harmful substances in this pathway, worsening the risk for teens already prone to mental health struggles.
Expert Perspectives on Teen Mental Health
Professor Valeria Mondelli, a psychoneuroimmunology specialist at King’s College London, explained, "Adolescence brings massive changes to the brain and body, but we’re still piecing together why depression hits girls harder." Dr. Negar Nikbakht, another researcher involved, added, "Identifying this biological marker could help us spot at-risk teens early—especially girls—and tailor treatments to their needs." She highlighted potential solutions, from medications to lifestyle tweaks like improved diet and exercise, targeting the kynurenine pathway.
What This Means for the Future
This study marks a vital step in understanding why depression in adolescent girls is more common than in boys. By linking the kynurenine pathway to mental health, it opens doors to new strategies for prevention and treatment. Whether through advanced therapies or simple lifestyle changes, these findings could transform how we support teens facing depression.
Source : EurekAlert!
0 Comments