Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Jan 7, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Prof. Dr. Srijan Sen, a University of Michigan psychiatrist has recently conducted a study that stated that a gene that carries a chemical, called serotonin, can result in depression and make people less resilient to stress. Serotonin may be regarded as the ‘mood regulating’ chemical in human system, that is carried by 5-HTTLPR gene.

Prof. Dr. Srijan Sen said that the individuals who carry a shorter form of serotonin transporter gene, called 5-HTTLPR, are more prone to depression when they go through any stressful incidents. Many a times, getting depressed for not being able to overcome the stressful past is attributed to this particular gene, that operates the functioning of serotonin. The research involved 54 studies, that dated between 2001 to 2010, with more than 41,000 subjects to yield the correct conclusion on the basis of several testings and surveys. It showed that those individuals, whose “serotonin transporter” gene were “shorter” in a particular area, face more problems in handling stress and depression. Similarly, individuals having these genes larger in certain area, are much better at handling stress. Director of psychiatry research at the Zucker Hillside Hospital, Dr. Anil Malhotra said that the research by Dr. Srijan Sen is extremely “interesting”, but other genes may also be related to depression and stress.

5-HTTLPR gene was first identified in mid-1990s. However, its significance came under limelight in 2003, when a group of researchers came to the conclusion that a shorter 5-HTTLPR gene leads to more depression and less resistance to stress. Later on, several other similar studies were conducted, but most of them could not establish the hypothesis. In 2009, a similar research was published in American Medical Association, that analyzed 14 study cases. However, they were not successful. This research by Dr. Srijan Sen established the fact on a broader ground, analyzing a larger group of people.