A gene is found which is responsible for female happiness
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Thanks to a new study conducted by scientists from the University of South Florida, the National Institutes of Health and Columbia University, the gene of female happiness was discovered.
This discovery will help explain the fact that women are happier than men, despite the fact that they are more prone to worry and stress.
The results obtained are published in the online journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry.
According to the co-author of the study, Enian Chen, MD, associate professor of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics from the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, he was very surprised by the result. The thing is that the low expression of monoamine oxidase MAOA was associated with depression, antisocial behavior and alcoholism.
In addition, it was this gene that was called the warrior gene, because it was responsible for the person's inclination to kill and aggression. But in the case of women, the gene shows its bright side.
"This new discovery can help us explain gender differences and give a deeper insight into the relationship between specific genes and human happiness," says Dr. Chen.
The MAOA gene regulates enzymes that break down serotonin, dopamine and other neurotransmitters. Their decrease is associated with depression and bad mood, because they become frequent targets of antidepressants.
The decrease in activity of the MAOA gene increases the number of monoamines, due to which the neurotransmitters remain at a high level.
Scientists analyzed DNA193 women and 152 men. They took into account factors such as education, age and income level.
As it turned out, women with a low activity of the MAOA gene were much happier than others.
In this case, two copies of the gene increased the feeling of happiness. In men with versions of the MAOA gene, this effect was not observed.
Experts explain the gender difference by the action of the hormone testosterone, which in the body of men is greater than that of women. It is testosterone that blocks the positive effect of the MAOA gene in men.
According to this scales, experts suggested that adolescent boys are more likely to be more happy in adolescence, while their testosterone levels are lower.
Dr. Chen emphasizes that more research is needed to study the specific influence of genes on the well-being and well-being of a person.
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