374 | id == 374
374 | category_id == 22
374 | category_order == 19
374 | category_name == Trauma
374 | category_color == #C47AC0
374 | slug == RGS2-PTSD
374 | title == An Emotional Regulation Gene & PTSD (RGS2)
374 | meta_description == The RGS2 gene helps keep emotional responses from getting out of control. What is its link to anxiety & PTSD?
374 | summary == <p><strong>The <em>RGS2 </em>gene helps keep emotional responses from getting out of control. What is its link to anxiety &amp; PTSD? Read on to learn more.</strong></p>
374 | overall_score_text == Your PTSD Score (based on RGS2)
374 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/RGS2-PTSD.jpg
374 | author_id == 1
374 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
374 | author_title == BSc, BEd
374 | author_order == 36
374 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
374 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
374 | reviewer == None
374 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
374 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
374 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
374 | publish_date == 2020
374 | publish_date == 10
374 | publish_date == 1
374 | avg_rating == 5.0
374 | tags_id == 112
374 | tags_name == Anxiety
374 | tags_id == 761
374 | tags_name == Emotional Regulation
374 | tags_id == 6
374 | tags_name == PTSD
374 | tags_id == 752
374 | tags_name == Resilience
374 | tags_id == 722
374 | tags_name == RGS2 gene
374 | permissions_favorite == False
374 | permissions_rate == False
374 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summary</span></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes a protein that regulates some types of brain activity. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in PTSD by failing to regulate negative emotions. Lifestyle and supplement modifications may counteract these variants by increasing RGS2 or supporting its function.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2 and PTSD</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/rgs2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2 </span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene encodes a protein called &lsquo;regulator of G protein signaling 2&rsquo;. It can reduce the activity of some types of receptors, leading to lower levels of certain cell functions [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30107643/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18833580/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25740197/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2 is found in higher amounts in parts of the brain that are responsible for feeling emotions. Some variants of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene lead to higher brain activity than normal in these regions, leading to unregulated emotion and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-anxiety/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anxiety</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30107643/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25740197/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unsurprisingly, variation in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has been strongly linked to anxiety disorders and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2666784/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The relationship between </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and mental health is highly complex. In brief, however, variants that decrease RGS2 levels may prevent the brain from appropriately regulating fearful emotions. As a result, these variants may lead to increased susceptibility to PTSD [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The RGS2 gene helps prevent an excessive emotional response. Unsurprisingly, it has been implicated in anxiety disorders and PTSD.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your RGS2 Results for PTSD</span></h2> <p>*4944122333719873*</p> <p><strong>RGS2 </strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs4606/"><strong>rs4606</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Possibly protective against PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele may experience more anxiety and fear after a traumatic event [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p>*2931613538015365*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations for Regulating Emotions</span></h2> <p>*2437166465612523*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sun Exposure</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Protein kinase C (PKC) has been associated with increased RGS2 levels and appears to be activated by vitamin D [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11322774/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/pmc/pmc296566"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3119906/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study associated PTSD with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> deficiency. In line with this, a variant of the gene encoding the protein that stores and transports vitamin D (</span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/gc/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) was associated with both higher blood vitamin D levels and reduced risk of PTSD [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31518608/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another study suggested that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of PTSD in war veterans by altering testosterone levels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24604440/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can increase your blood vitamin D levels through a healthy exposure to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sunlight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and eating food sources of this vitamin such as fatty fish, liver, egg yolks, and dairy. Vitamin D supplements are also available [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Vitamin D activates an enzyme that may increase RGS2. People with PTSD are also more likely to be deficient in vitamin D, making this a good vitamin to keep an eye on if you have detrimental RGS2 alleles.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">NAC</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of chicken embryos, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) increased </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> expression [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24398995/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a small study on war veterans with PTSD and a history of substance abuse, supplementation with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/nac-top-43-science-based-health-benefits-n-acetyl-cysteine-nac/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">N-acetylcysteine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> enhanced the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on both PTSD symptoms and substance cravings [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5226873/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study to evaluate the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine for treatment-resistant PTSD is underway [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7409699/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">NAC may increase RGS2 expression and has been shown to improve PTSD symptoms in a small study.</span></p>
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374 | content_learn_more_2931613538015365_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your RGS2 gene is somewhat associated with PTSD. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of PTSD; it’s just one gene related to it. Sun exposure and NAC may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs4606
rsStatus = rs4606,RGS2,chr1,192812042,C,G,T,,19,16,HET
