Genetics and Health

Stressful Genes

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on March 3rd, 2006

Are your genes making you stressed out? A number of studies presented at the American Psychosomatic Society annual meeting in Denver suggests that some people may be more susceptible to the health effects of stress than others because of their genetic make-up.

1. The MAOA gene had a significant effect on the levels of stress hormone levels in primary caregivers for relatives or spouses with Alzheimer’s disease.

Redford Williams, MD, director of the Behavioral Medicine Research Center at Duke:

Ultimately, their body’s biological ability to cope with stress became impaired. This exhaustion of their ability to mount a hormonal stress response could place men with the less active form of the gene at higher risk of developing a broad range of health problems as their caregiving duties continue.

2. Families of genes known to affect the stress response may be linked to the risk of developing hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Harold Snieder, Ph.D. said:

It has been difficult to show effects of stress on the development of hypertension because it may be that only a subset of people who show a genetic susceptibility will develop high blood pressure after chronic exposure to stress.

Contrary to what some may think, genes are not inactive particles that act but don’t REact. Some genes may never express themselves except in certain conditions including stress.

Eco De Geus, Ph.D., of the Vrije Univeriteit:

Some genes may lie dormant when life is sweet and calm, but swing into action when we are stressed.

Eventually, it may be possible to determine who among us need to be more vigilant because of predisposing genetic factors connecting our ability to cope with stress and how the stress in turn affects our health. Best thing to do is to remain level and calm at all times. But what would be the fun of that?

Genomics and Proteomics, March 2, 2006

Technorati Tags: stress, genes, genetics, health, dna

Share This

Related Stories

Major stress in early pregnancy may lead to schizophrenia in children
Happiness is down to your genes
Collagen IV α1 Gene and Stroke
The Importance of Face-to-Face Genetic Counseling
Treating People Instead of Genes

POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health