By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker Nov 17 2025 By separating early- and late-onset depression, researchers uncovered hidden genetic signatures that reshape our understanding of risk, severity, and brain development. Study: Genome-wide association analyses identify distinct genetic architectures for early-onset and late-onset depression . Image credit: Bits And Splits/Shutterstock.com Major depressive disorder (MDD) presents with a wide range of clinical features, reflecting the