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IMAGE: Health science specialist Yasamin Azadzoi removes Million Veteran Program samples from a cryotank at the Boston MVP facility. view more
Credit: Frank Curran
In the largest genetic analysis of depression to date, Veterans Affairs researchers identified many new gene variants that increase the risk for depression. The groundbreaking study helps researchers better understand the biological basis of depression and could lead to better drug treatments.
The study involved genetic data on more than 300,000 participants of VA s Million Veteran Program (MVP), along with more than a million subjects from other biobanks, including 23andMe. With such a large participant pool, the researchers were able to spot trends in genetic risk of depression not previously known.
Chocolate linked to lower cardio disease risk, study suggests Regular chocolate consumption may lower Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk, according to a study, which identifies cocoa content and flavonoid amounts in chocolate types as possible reasons for this link.
Work carried out by the research team found regular chocolate consumption was associated with an 8%–12% lower risk of CAD among a group of veterans.
Further work deemed the food’s consumption to have no effect on cardiovascular disease risk in veterans with type 2 diabetes.
“The amount of chocolate consumption needed to confer a lower risk of CAD varies across studies,” the team discovered.
Shared genetic architecture between COVID-19 severity and other health conditions
Researchers in the United States have identified a shared genetic architecture between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and other health conditions.
Using electronic health record data and genomic data from Veteran Affairs (VA), the Million Veteran Program (MVP), and the United Kingdom Biobank (UKBB), the team identified conditions associated with risk factors for severe COVID-19.
The study found that phenotypes associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes such as thrombotic complications also shared genetic variants associated with severe COVID-19.
Among respiratory conditions, only idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and asthma shared genetic risk factors with severe disease, with no association observed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chocolate linked to lower cardio disease risk, study suggests Regular chocolate consumption may lower Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk, according to a study, which identifies cocoa content and flavonoid amounts in chocolate types as possible reasons for this link.
Work carried out by the research team found regular chocolate consumption was associated with an 8%–12% lower risk of CAD among a group of veterans.
Further work deemed the food’s consumption to have no effect on cardiovascular disease risk in veterans with type 2 diabetes.
“The amount of chocolate consumption needed to confer a lower risk of CAD varies across studies,” the team discovered.
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VA genetics program aims to increase mental health treatments for Veterans
VA’s Million Veteran Program, one of the world’s largest databases of health and genetic information, has published influential papers on genetic risk for a number of mental health conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Some mental illnesses, such as opioid use disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, have not been as well-represented among MVP volunteers.
Leaders of the Million Veteran Program (MVP) are addressing this gap through a new initiative called MVP MIND. It will survey 50,000 new participants with serious mental health conditions about their experiences. MVP officials believe such efforts will lead to more powerful research into these issues and better treatments.