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UCLA study identifies gene linked to PTSD
A vet walks in his kitchen near some of the many prescription drugs he has been prescribed by doctors to help him cope with his PTSD.
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UCLA study identifies gene linked to PTSD
A new UCLA study may explain why some people are more likely to have post traumatic stress syndrome than others.
The new study suggests that a person is more likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or if they carry two particular gene variations that interfere with the body’s ability to produce Serotonin. That’s the brain chemical that regulates, mood, sleep and alertness.
The researchers looked at the DNA of 200 adults from 12 families who survived the devastating 1988 Armenia earthquake.
They found that those with PTSD symptoms were more likely to carry the two gene variations than those without.
Symptoms of the disorder include flashbacks, emotional numbness and hyper-alertness to danger. The study could lead to screenings for PTSD, as well as potential medications.
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