It Runs in the Family: New Research May Shape Anxiety Treatment

A recent study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin sought to flesh out our understanding of the biological underpinnings of anxious responses, and the possibility of anxiety being passed down through generations. The study used imaging technology to observe the brain activity of almost 600 rhesus monkeys when exposed to a low-level threat, specifically “a stranger entering a room and not making eye contact.” Rhesus monkeys were chosen due to their behavioral similarity to children. The brain scans allowed the researchers to identify a particular circuit made up for the brainstem, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex that appears to be the basis for hereditability of anxiety. These areas of the brain contribute to normal stress responses, but when you suffer from anxiety, they appear to go into overdrive and disrupt normal emotional processing. The discovery of this brain circuit may lead to more sophisticated treatments that directly target the overactive components and offer relief for those living with anxiety.

The exact mechanism by which anxiety is passed from parent to child remains unknown, but there is increasing evidence of a genetic component that predisposes you to develop an anxious temperament. A group of researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital found that that both children and adults with a particular genetic variation display higher levels of social inhibition and “reactivity of brain regions involved in processing fear and anxiety,” increasing their risk of anxiety disorders, particularly social anxiety. Studies in mice indicate that specific presentations of RGS2, a protein that mediates neurotransmitter receptor activity, in chromosome 1 is associated with anxious temperaments. Upon examining the blood samples of children who had participated in earlier studies assessing anxiety reactions, the researchers identified 9 RGS2 gene variations linked to behavioral inhibition. To examine if the 4 most prominent variations were associated with social inhibition in adults, the researchers conducted personality surveys and analyzed blood samples from over 700 college students. They found that the genetic markers linked to behavioral inhibition in children were the same as those associated with social inhibition in adults.