Environment Decides Influence Of Genes On Mental Health

The same set of genes that make us prone to depression could also lead us to positivity in life depending on their environment, researchers have found. Elaine Fox from Oxford University and Chris Beevers from the University of Texas at Austin reviewed a number of studies. They said that there is a need to combine studies in mental health genetics with those that look at cognitive biases. The cognitive bias can greatly influence sensitivity to one’s environment. Cognitive bias refers to the pattern of deviation from rationality in judgement causing illogical inferences about other people or situations. The findings showed that cognitive biases occur when people consistently interpret situations though particular mental 'filters’. When people have a cognitive bias that emphasises negative aspects or thoughts, they are more at risk of mental health disorders. There is a lot of research about these biases and about genes that may make people susceptible to mental ill health. It could make more sense to bring together these two areas of research.

Likewise, genetics studies have identified variants, such as the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) short (S) allele, which make people more sensitive to their environments. People with this S allele are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders than people with the long (L) variant, studies have shown.

“If you take a gene that is linked to mental illness, and compare people who have the same genetic variant, it becomes clear that what happens to their mental health is based on their environment. We suggest that while no gene 'causes' mental ill health, some genes can make people more sensitive to the effects of their environment, for better and for worse," said Elaine Fox, Professor at the Oxford University in the UK.

What happens to people's mental health is based on their environment, not because of differences in genes. If an individual is in a negative environment, he/she is likely to develop the negative cognitive biases that lead to mental disorders. On the other hand, individuals with the same set of genes but in a supportive environment are likely to develop positive cognitive biases that increase mental resilience, said the paper published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Source-Medindia