It has become known why some people take everything to heart

An international team of scientists led by researchers from King's College London has discovered genes that may explain why some people react more acutely to what is happening around them - both to good events and bad ones. The results are published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding why some of us are more sensitive to the surrounding world. The study showed that genetically determined human sensitivity to the environment directly affects the manifestation of anxiety, depression, signs of ADHD, autism, and everyday emotional experiences.

The large-scale study analyzed data from nearly 22,000 identical twins from different countries around the world. The uniqueness of such a sample lies in the fact that twins, having identical genetic codes, often live in different conditions. This allowed scientists to accurately identify specific DNA regions responsible for increased or decreased sensitivity to external influences.

The results of the study revealed a surprising fact: some people are genetically programmed to be more receptive to the world around them. Such individuals not only react more acutely to stressful situations but are also able to derive much more positive emotions from pleasant events. This discovery sheds light on the long-standing question of why the same life circumstances have such different effects on the mental state of different people. Researchers found that genes affecting brain development are closely linked to sensitivity to autistic traits, while genes regulating stress responses determine predisposition to symptoms of depression.

The authors of the study emphasize that this is a crucial step toward a deeper understanding of the complex interaction between genetic factors and the environment. In the future, these discoveries could become the foundation for developing fundamentally new personalized methods for treating and preventing various mental disorders.