a gene within the brain called, SKA2, regulates how the brain processes stress hormones. Kaminsky further explains that if the gene (SKA2) is impaired by a chemical change, someone who is stressed wont be able to shut down the effect of the stress hormone. “The analogy we think might be appropriate is thinking of it like a brake pad that isn’t functioning properly or is perhaps gone, in essence. So what this brake pad is for is the stress response and specially for shutting down the stress response. In that way the brake pad analogy works quite well because if you are stressed, (meaning) if the car is driving, you are going to need those brakes....” (https://youtube/watch?v=cnbQ84kxyLA) According to the study, people who died by suicide had higher levels of the chemical (methyls) that altered the SKA2 gene. This research team then tested sets of blood samples to see if they could determine who was at greater risk using the same bio-marker. This resulted with 80 to 90 percent accuracy whether a person had thoughts of suicide or made an attempt by looking at the single gene, while accounting for age, gender and levels of stress or anxiety. (washingtonpost/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/07/30/blood-test-could-predict-risk-of-suicide/) This study shows a biological component to suicide which potentially results in a diminished resilience when faced with stress. Under these circumstances, a suicidal person lacks control over these specific biological conditions which impact decision making.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 02:46:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015