Third, the biological correlates and genomic biomarker of depression specifically are lacking in the field. One of the reasons might be the heterogeneity of depression that inhibits a clearer correlation between symptoms of depression and biological correlates. By focusing on cognitive dimensions of depression, it is assumed that cognitive function might more closely correlate with biological markers (e.g., BDNF, inflammatory marker) than a global syndrome of depression consisting of a variety of symptoms clusters. The CoFaM Study allows for the study of the molecular underpinnings of cognitive dimensions by collecting extensively specimen for genetic, gene expression, epigenomic, sequencing, and serum/plasma analyses.
