336 | id == 336
336 | category_id == 21
336 | category_order == 18
336 | category_name == Anxiety
336 | category_color == #C47AC0
336 | slug == CNTN4-anxiety
336 | title == A Genetic Link Between a Stress Hormone and Panic Disorder (CNTN4)
336 | meta_description == Variants of CNTN4 may influence the levels of a stress hormone that has been linked to panic disorder. Read more here.
336 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>CNTN4 </em>gene may be involved in the development of a brain region called the hypothalamus. Dysregulation of the hypothalamus can increase levels of cortisol, a hormone that has been linked to panic disorder. Read more to learn how a variant of <em>CNTN4 </em>can influence panic disorder, and how to mitigate the negative effects of this variant.</strong></p>
336 | overall_score_text == Your Anxiety Score (based on CNTN4 gene)
336 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/CNTN4-Anxiety.jpg
336 | author_id == 14
336 | author_name == Shany Lahan
336 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
336 | author_order == 5
336 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
336 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
336 | reviewer == None
336 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
336 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
336 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
336 | publish_date == 2020
336 | publish_date == 9
336 | publish_date == 16
336 | avg_rating == 5.0
336 | tags_id == 112
336 | tags_name == Anxiety
336 | tags_id == 714
336 | tags_name == CNTN4 Gene
336 | tags_id == 416
336 | tags_name == Cortisol
336 | tags_id == 415
336 | tags_name == HPA axis
336 | tags_id == 502
336 | tags_name == Hypothalamus
336 | tags_id == 713
336 | tags_name == Panic Disorder
336 | tags_id == 50
336 | tags_name == Stress
336 | permissions_favorite == False
336 | permissions_rate == False
336 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CNTN4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene codes for contactin 4, a protein involved in the development of a brain region called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is part of a system that regulates the release of the hormone cortisol.</span></span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CNTN4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in panic disorder by increasing cortisol levels.&nbsp;</span></span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Lifestyle and supplement modifications can counteract the effects of these variants by decreasing levels of cortisol.</span></li> </ul> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CNTN4</em> and Panic Disorder</strong></h2> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../../gene/cntn4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CNTN4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for contactin 4, a protein that helps brain cells (neurons) grow and form connections during brain development [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CNTN4"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Contactin 4 can be found in regions of the brain such as the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hypothalamus-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">hypothalamus</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/326017v1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through sequential interactions with the pituitary gland and adrenal glands, the hypothalamus is able to regulate the release of the stress hormone </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cortisol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This system is commonly known as the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/reasons-cortisol-low-high/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HPA axis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dysregulation of the HPA axis has been implicated in panic disorder, an anxiety-related disorder characterized by panic attacks. In individuals with panic disorder, cortisol levels are often higher than in healthy controls [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8797187/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11005547/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the mechanism has yet to be elucidated, variants of <em>CNTN4</em> may mediate abnormal development of the hypothalamus. This can result in HPA axis dysregulation, increased cortisol levels and ultimately, panic disorder [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23149450"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/326017v1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>CNTN4</em> Results for Panic Disorder</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5545022718301196*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>CNTN4 </em></strong><a href="../../../snp/rs4129976/"><strong>rs4129976</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Increased risk of panic disorder</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with panic disorder</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*8413231409896915*</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations for Reducing Anxiety</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*8697047646472655*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Mindfulness</strong></h4> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mindfulness is an individual practice, as well as a form of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many studies have observed reductions in anxiety and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with mindfulness meditation interventions. In fact, research suggests that mindfulness is the only form of meditation that reliably improves anxiety [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29930229/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26334339/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31039261/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0063263/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a randomized controlled trial, cortisol levels and other stress markers were significantly reduced after 21 days of mindfulness meditation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30256277/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A mindfulness-based intervention significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety in individuals with panic disorder [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19242985/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Mindfulness may reduce anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Massage</strong></h4> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/massage-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Massage</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may reduce anxiety and stress by lowering the levels of hormones that increase heart rate, breathing, and sweating, such as</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/acth/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">ACTH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. ACTH is produced by the pituitary gland, and regulates the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23251939"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In line with this, a back massage intervention was observed to significantly decrease cortisol levels and anxiety in caregivers of cancer patients [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26745049/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Generalized anxiety disorder patients observed significant reductions in anxiety after a Swedish massage intervention [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27464321/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although more studies need to be conducted in relation to panic disorder specifically, current research suggests that massage can have significant benefits on symptoms of anxiety related to panic disorder [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6519566/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Massage may reduce anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Bacopa monnieri</em></strong></h4> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://content.selfdecode.com/blog/bacopa-monnieri-4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a perennial herb found in many parts of the world.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">An extract of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">was found to reduce anxiety in a clinical trial [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11498727"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplementation also reduced cortisol levels and overall stress in a randomized controlled trial [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23788517"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">High doses of a </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> extract significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in an animal model of anxiety. This effect was similar to that of a medication commonly prescribed for panic disorder and other anxiety-related disorders [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23195757/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is important to note that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplements should be taken with a meal, because they require dietary fats for successful absorption.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em>Bacopa monnieri </em>may reduce anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels.</span></p>
336 | content_snp_table_5545022718301196_key == 5545022718301196
336 | content_snp_table_5545022718301196_blur == True
336 | content_snp_table_5545022718301196_hidden == False
336 | content_learn_more_8413231409896915_key == 8413231409896915
336 | content_learn_more_8413231409896915_blur == True
336 | content_learn_more_8413231409896915_hidden == False
336 | content_learn_more_8413231409896915_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your CNTN4 gene makes you somewhat more likely to develop panic disorder. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of panic disorder; it’s just one gene related to it. Mindfulness, massage, and Bacopa monnieri supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
336 | content_recommendation_8697047646472655_key == 8697047646472655
336 | content_recommendation_8697047646472655_blur == True
336 | content_recommendation_8697047646472655_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs4129976
rsStatus = rs4129976,CNTN4,chr3,2128119,T,A,C,,30,0,Normal
