News Brain Function and Genetics

[Mercy]

August 2009 New York Times

There have been scientific studies in England that show how our genes have been affected. One of the most recent studies I have read is about brain function. The scientists are studying the impact of our life experiences, brain function and genetics. They found out something that makes so-o-o much sense to me.

They found that children from average families have their DNA, which replicates dopamine, seratonin, and norepinephrin, able to open and 'turn on' the correct codes with the correct strand of DNA to make those essential compounds. Children who have had traumatic childhoods, refugees, war, domestic abuse....do have those same gene sequences but they are unable to open and replicate. Those genes have simply been 'turned off'.

 

[Ursa]

This is huge.

The more they learn the less I understand why there knowledges are not used to help diagnostic PTSD.

 

[NarcSis]

This leads to the question of the well adjusted child who as a young adult goes off to war and comes back suffering PTSD...does the chemical overload/overactivity switch off his genetic capacity to moderate those neurotransmitters and will he pass this 'defect' on to his children....?

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

This is an interesting conversation - I'll be following along. Thanks for posting.

 

[Ursa]

How can we really measure who is "well adjusted"?

This is so subjective, I really have a hard time sometimes to define "normal".

 

[Mercy]

medic,

I think that the correct gene sequence will be passed on to a baby. It seems to be experience that selects what genes might be 'turned on or off.'

As for an adult who experiences trauma that is diagnosed as PTSD, I think it is true that the PTSD symptoms we express show a lack of production of certain brain chemicals. It may be accurate to posit that those same genes have been turned off. I think in an adult it may be possible to turn them back on. Depression can be a result of inadequate supply of dopamine, or serotonin, and norepinphrin.(sp?). Many of the medicines prescribed for PTSD contain 1 or more of these chemicals.

I am not a Doctor or a biochemist. But the article I read just made so much sense to me. It has helped me not to feel like a failure for likely needing to take antidepressants for the rest of my life.

This leads to the question of the well adjusted child who as a young adult goes off to war and comes back suffering PTSD...does the chemical overload/overactivity switch off his genetic capacity to moderate those neurotransmitters and will he pass this 'defect' on to his children....?