New Bio-Marker Helps Identify People Who Are Prone to Chronic Stress: Study
Researchers have identified a biomarker that helps detect people who are likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Recently, experts at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai University found the genetic expression of glucocorticoids, a stress hormone released in blood, can serve as a measurable indicator of PTSD. Their research used a group of male and female rats that were exposed to cat litter and urine to induce stress and anxiety. The scientists noted the level of hormone receptor signaling by examining tissue samples. One group of rats were given corticosterone , a hormone that increases the glucocorticoid receptors an hour after exposing them to cat urine.
It was observed rats that were prone to stress had higher levels of glucocorticoid receptor signaling while rats that were on corticosterone exhibited less anxiety and restlessness even a week after the experiment. The authors believe these findings help identify genetic pathways to devise treatment for chronic stress and PTSD.
"We found that most of the genes and pathways that are different in PTSD-like animals compared to resilient animals are related to the glucocorticoid receptor," said Rachel Yehuda, study author and professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai University, reports the Business Standard.
Patients of PTSD undergo tragic events or are witness to disturbing incidents like war, poverty, death, crime and violence. They have difficulty coping up after stressful events and experience repeated bouts of depression, anxiety and nightmares.
"PTSD is not just a disorder that affects the brain. It involves the entire body, which is why identifying common regulators is key. The glucocorticoid receptor is the one common regulator that consistently stood out," said Nikolaos Daskalakis co-author and researcher from Mount Sinai University.
More information is available online in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.
