New study explores the genetics of PTSD

with Dr. Joel Gelernter, a professor of genetics and neuroscience at Yale, was quick to note that this type of association study offers suggestions rather than clear answers. But correlating genetic information on such a large scale, he said, can help guide deeper investigations in the future.

Epigenetics, the study by which genes within a person’s DNA actually get expressed and how that translation occurs, are necessary to truly understand how genetic differences might influence real people.

With medium spiny neurons, Stein said, the study provides hints that could be the starting point for deeper epigenetic studies that could determine how, and in which specific circumstances, genetic code differences deliver heightened PTSD susceptibility.

Though more work is needed, being able to see these genetic differences across large populations, Stein said, provides something of a road map, giving a notion of where to look for what might be driving a disorder.

“If you can understand, for example, how neurons are affected, it makes us look to see whether it’s possible that medications could influence and maybe benefit those neurons,” Stein said.

As for the study’s particular findings, Mark Miller, a clinical research psychologist with the VA Boston Health Care System and the VA’S National Center for PTSD, said he is most excited to see a strong correlation around a gene known as CRHR1.

Scientists have long suspected that changes in this gene have something significant to do with PTSD susceptibility.

“CRHR1 is something that has been researched for decades using classical scientific investigation approaches,” Miller said. “Now we’re getting some convergence with this unbiased hypothesisfree approach to gene discovery.”

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