Genetic Risk For Anxiety Does Not Have To Be Destiny
Science Daily (April 29, 2009)
Current research has provided much evidence to support the idea that there are particular genes which put individuals at a greater risk of developing depression, anxiety or substance abuse later in life. Researchers want to emphasise the fact however that although this may be the case, this does not mean that these individuals are automatically and bound to have harmful lives.
Juvenile monkeys were used to investigate the different outcomes that different upbringings could have on those with these negative genotypes. They found that these different conditions did make a difference, as the monkeys raised amongst a smaller population were on average more anxious and aggressive and the opposite was found for the monkeys raised amongst a larger population.
A wide variety of obvious or subtle differences in the raising of a child could be the trigger for these genotypes to show however this study did show that this outcome could be avoided and these genes did not mean that that person had to lead an unsatisfactory life.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429091234.htm
