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Addictive drug abuse and depression-a focus on epigenetics
Wangwei Zhang1,2, Mingyue Xu1,2, Chong Wang1,2
1Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Communications Biology
|February 21, 2026
Summary
Addictive drug use is linked to depression via neurobiological changes. Epigenetic mechanisms explain how drug exposure impacts gene expression, offering targets for treating this comorbidity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
Background:
- Addictive drug use is a global health issue.
- Depression affects over 300 million people worldwide.
- Drug use is increasingly linked to depression development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how epigenetic mechanisms link addictive drug use and depression.
- To explore neurobiological pathways involved in drug-induced depression.
- To identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Literature review integrating neurobiological and epigenetic findings.
- Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs.
- Discussion of technical constraints and emerging epigenomic approaches.
Main Results:
- Chronic drug exposure alters reward circuitry, neuroinflammation, HPA axis, and mitochondrial function.
- Epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs) mediate lasting gene expression changes.
- These changes affect mood regulation, stress response, and neural plasticity.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic mechanisms provide a framework for understanding addiction-depression comorbidity.
- Epigenetic modifications offer potential biomarkers for early detection and personalized treatment.
- Emerging epigenomic technologies may yield more causal and translational insights.
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