Grant: Project Grant

In Canada and worldwide, depression prevalence in youth has increased over the last 25 years and spiked during COVID-19. The symptoms of depression cause considerable suffering, with negative lifespan impacts on education, marital success, work attainment, and income. Depression costs the Canadian economy approximately $32 billion/year. In contrast, resilience is the ability to respond positively and adapt to adversity; higher resilience is linked with optimal mental health among youth. Both depression and resilience likely result from an interplay between genes and experiences in early life. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation (DNAm), have been linked to depression and resilience. Mental health experts recommend research focus on understanding resilience to help address the problem of youth depression. This has not been done due to lack of a) longitudinal studies, and b) statistical methods to handle large volumes of data. Identifying early life risk and protective factors for youths' depression or resilience, and the role of DNAm, could guide better prevention and treatment for youth mental health promotion, or even suggest targets for pharmacotherapy. Since 2009, the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Team has collected longitudinal data on 2000+ families since pregnancy. We will use new machine learning techniques to explore how patterns of DNAm may link comprehensive prenatal, infancy, preschool and school-age risk and protective factors to depression and resilience in APrON 15 year-olds. To do this, we will collect buccal (cheek cell) samples from 15 year-olds for assessment of DNAm. We will also measure youth depression and resilience at 15 years of age. Our knowledge translation partners (e.g. Palix Foundation), will ensure findings spur action and support clinicians', policy makers', and researchers' selection of targets and timing for programs, services, and therapies to promote youth and lifespan resilience and mental health.