A new research study has found that a genetic variant associated with an enhanced capacity for emotional memories is also linked to increased susceptibility to post-traumatic stress. The scientists examined the DNA of a large group of Rwandan refugees, all of whom had experienced multiple traumatic events during their country's civil war, and found that those carrying the variant are twice more likely to suffer from PTSD than those who do not. The article is available on the website of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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