A new research has found the Gene That Predicts Happiness
in Women Discovered, but it doesn't work for men. The finding may help explain
why women are often happier than men, the research team said.
Scientists at the University of South Florida (USF), the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Columbia University and the New York State
Psychiatric Institute reported that the low-expression form of the gene
monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) is associated with higher self-reported happiness in
women. No such association was found in men.
The findings appear online in the journal Progress in
Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.
"This is the first happiness gene for women,"
said lead author Henian Chen, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Department of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, USF College of Public Health.
"I was surprised by the result, because low
expression of MAOA has been related to some negative outcomes like alcoholism,
aggressiveness and antisocial behavior," said Chen, who directs the
Biostatistics Core at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine's Clinical and
Translational Sciences Institute. "It's even called the warrior gene by
some scientists, but, at least for women, our study points to a brighter side
of this gene."
While they experience higher rates of mood and anxiety
disorders, women tend to report greater overall life happiness than do men. The
reason for this remains unclear, Chen said. "This new finding may help us
to explain the gender difference and provide more insight into the link between
specific genes and human happiness."
The MAOA gene regulates the activity of an enzyme that
breaks down serontin, dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain -- the
same "feel-good" chemicals targeted by many antidepressants. The
low-expression version of the MAOA gene promotes higher levels of monoamine,
which allows larger amounts of these neurotransmitters to stay in the brain and
boost mood.
The researchers analyzed data from a population-based
sample of 345 individuals -- 193 women and 152 men -- participating in Children
in the Community, a longitudinal mental health study. The DNA of study subjects
had been analyzed for MAOA gene variation and their self-reported happiness was
scored by a widely used and validated scale.
After controlling for various factors, ranging from age
and education to income, the researchers found that women with the
low-expression type of MAOA were significantly happier than others. Compared to
women with no copies of the low-expression version of the MAOA gene, women with
one copy scored higher on the happiness scale and those with two copies
increased their score even more.
While a substantial number of men carried a copy of the
"happy" version of the MAOA gene, they reported no more happiness
than those without it.
So, why the genetic gender gap in feeling good?
The researchers suspect the difference may be explained
in part by the hormone testosterone, found in much smaller amounts in women
than in men. Chen and his co-authors suggest that testosterone may cancel out
the positive effect of MAOA on happiness in men.
The potential benefit of MAOA in boys could wane as
testosterone levels rise with puberty, Chen said. "Maybe men are happier
before adolescence because their testosterone levels are lower."
Chen emphasizes that more research is needed to identify
which specific genes influence resilience and subjective well-being, especially
since studies of twins estimate genetic factors account for 35 to 50 percent of
the variance in human happiness.
While happiness is not determined by a single gene, there
is likely a set of genes that, along with life experiences, shape our
individual happiness levels, Chen said. "I think the time is right for
more genetic studies that focus on well-being and happiness."
"Certainly it could be argued that how well-being is
enhanced deserves at least as much attention as how (mental) disorders arise;
however, such knowledge remains limited."
The study by Chen and colleagues was supported by the
National Institutes of Health and a USF proposal enhancement grant.
Image Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1172985
Image Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1172985
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