Authors: Janitza L. Montalvo-Ortiz; Joel Gelernter; Zhongshan Cheng; Matthew J. Girgenti; Ke Xu; Xinyu Zhang; Shyamalika Gopalan; Hang Zhou; Ronald S. Duman; Steven M. Southwick; John H. Krystal; Robert H. Pietrzak · Research
Can Changes in DNA Help Explain PTSD in Veterans?
Groundbreaking study reveals how chemical changes to DNA may influence PTSD development in military veterans
Source: Montalvo-Ortiz, J. L., Gelernter, J., Cheng, Z., Girgenti, M. J., Xu, K., Zhang, X., ... & Pietrzak, R. H. (2022). Epigenome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder identifies novel loci in U.S. military veterans. Translational Psychiatry, 12(1), 65.
What you need to know
- Chemical modifications to DNA may help explain why some veterans develop PTSD after trauma exposure
- The study identified specific genes involved in immune function, brain cell communication, and stress response that show different patterns in veterans with PTSD
- Understanding these DNA changes could lead to better PTSD diagnosis and treatment approaches
The Hidden Marks of Trauma
Think of your DNA as an instruction manual for your body. While the core text stays the same, your life experiences can add highlights or sticky notes that change how these instructions are read. These marks on DNA, called epigenetic changes, help explain why two people who experience similar traumas might have very different psychological outcomes.
A Groundbreaking Discovery
In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers examined DNA samples from over 1,100 U.S. military veterans to understand how these chemical marks might influence PTSD development. They identified nine specific locations on the DNA that showed different patterns in veterans with PTSD compared to those without the condition.
What Makes These Findings Special
These DNA modifications were found in genes that control several important functions:
- Immune system response
- Communication between brain cells
- Stress reaction pathways
- Cell signaling
One particularly interesting finding involved a gene called SENP7, which helps regulate how other genes are turned on or off. Changes to this gene had already been linked to risk-taking behavior and alcohol consumption in previous studies. The researchers confirmed their finding in a separate group of veterans and even found similar patterns in brain tissue samples.
The Body’s Response System
The study revealed that different PTSD symptoms were associated with different patterns of DNA modifications. For example, all identified changes were linked to re-experiencing symptoms (like flashbacks and nightmares), while only some were connected to hyperarousal symptoms (like being easily startled or having trouble sleeping). This suggests that different biological mechanisms might underlie different aspects of PTSD.
What This Means for You
These findings have several important implications:
- If you’re a veteran with PTSD, your symptoms have biological underpinnings - they’re not “all in your head”
- Understanding these biological changes could lead to more precise treatments targeting specific symptoms
- These discoveries might eventually help identify who is at higher risk for developing PTSD after trauma
- The findings could lead to new ways to prevent or treat PTSD by targeting these biological changes
Conclusions
- PTSD leaves measurable marks on your DNA that can affect how your genes function
- These changes affect multiple biological systems, particularly those involved in immune response and brain function
- Future treatments might be able to target these specific biological changes to help treat or prevent PTSD