Biomarker Could Reveal Why Some Develop PTSD

According to a new study conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, blood expression levels of genes targeted by the stress hormones called glucocorticoids could be a physical measure — or biomarker — that may indicate risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, which is why the study aimed to identify biomarkers that could better measure each person’s vulnerability to the disorder. “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, which suggests we might have identified a therapeutic target for treatment of PTSD,” said the study’s lead author. Researchers explained that because PTSD is not just a disorder that affects the brain, but also involves the entire body, identifying common regulators is key. Results of the study showed the glucocorticoid receptor as the common regulator that consistently stood out. To read more about this study, click here.