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Bowirrat A, Elman I, Dennen CA, Gondré-Lewis MC, Cadet JL, Khalsa J, Baron D, Soni D, Gold MS, McLaughlin TJ, Bagchi D, Braverman ER, Ceccanti M, Thanos PK, Modestino EJ, Sunder K, Jafari N, Zeine F, Badgaiyan RD, Barh D, Makale M, Murphy KT, Blum K. Neurogenetics and Epigenetics of Loneliness. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:4839-4857. [PMID: 38050640 PMCID: PMC10693768 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s423802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Loneliness, an established risk factor for both, mental and physical morbidity, is a mounting public health concern. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying loneliness-related morbidity are not yet well defined. Here we examined the role of genes and associated DNA risk polymorphic variants that are implicated in loneliness via genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and may thus point to specific therapeutic targets. Searches were conducted on PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE databases using specific Medical Subject Headings terms such as loneliness and genes, neuro- and epigenetics, addiction, affective disorders, alcohol, anti-reward, anxiety, depression, dopamine, cancer, cardiovascular, cognitive, hypodopaminergia, medical, motivation, (neuro)psychopathology, social isolation, and reward deficiency. The narrative literature review yielded recursive collections of scientific and clinical evidence, which were subsequently condensed and summarized in the following key areas: (1) Genetic Antecedents: Exploration of multiple genes mediating reward, stress, immunity and other important vital functions; (2) Genes and Mental Health: Examination of genes linked to personality traits and mental illnesses providing insights into the intricate network of interaction converging on the experience of loneliness; (3) Epigenetic Effects: Inquiry into instances of loneliness and social isolation that are driven by epigenetic methylations associated with negative childhood experiences; and (4) Neural Correlates: Analysis of loneliness-related affective states and cognitions with a focus on hypodopaminergic reward deficiency arising in the context of early life stress, eg, maternal separation, underscoring the importance of parental support early in life. Identification of the individual contributions by various (epi)genetic factors presents opportunities for the creation of innovative preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for individuals who cope with persistent feelings of loneliness. The clinical facets and therapeutic prospects associated with the current understanding of loneliness, are discussed emphasizing the relevance of genes and DNA risk polymorphic variants in the context of loneliness-related morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdalla Bowirrat
- Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, 40700, Israel
| | - Igor Elman
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Catherine A Dennen
- Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Health Northeast, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marjorie C Gondré-Lewis
- Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, 20059, USA
| | - Jean Lud Cadet
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jag Khalsa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - David Baron
- Division of Addiction Research & Education, Center for Sports, Exercise, and Mental Health, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA
| | - Diwanshu Soni
- Western University Health Sciences School of Medicine, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Gold
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Thomas J McLaughlin
- Division of Reward Deficiency Clinics, TranspliceGen Therapeutics, Inc, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Debasis Bagchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eric R Braverman
- Division of Clinical Neurology, The Kenneth Blum Institute of Neurogenetics & Behavior, LLC, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mauro Ceccanti
- Alcohol Addiction Program, Latium Region Referral Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Panayotis K Thanos
- Behavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions, Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biosciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | | | - Keerthy Sunder
- Karma Doctors & Karma TMS, and Suder Foundation, Palm Springs, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Nicole Jafari
- Department of Human Development, California State University at Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
- Division of Personalized Medicine, Cross-Cultural Research and Educational Institute, San Clemente, CA, USA
| | - Foojan Zeine
- Awareness Integration Institute, San Clemente, CA, USA
- Department of Health Science, California State University at Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | | | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Purba Medinipur, WB, 721172, India
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Milan Makale
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0819, USA
| | - Kevin T Murphy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth Blum
- Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, 40700, Israel
- Division of Addiction Research & Education, Center for Sports, Exercise, and Mental Health, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA
- Division of Reward Deficiency Clinics, TranspliceGen Therapeutics, Inc, Austin, TX, USA
- Division of Clinical Neurology, The Kenneth Blum Institute of Neurogenetics & Behavior, LLC, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA
- Division of Personalized Medicine, Cross-Cultural Research and Educational Institute, San Clemente, CA, USA
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Purba Medinipur, WB, 721172, India
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont School of Medicine, Burlington, VA, USA
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Wilkialis L, Rodrigues N, Majeed A, Lee Y, Lipsitz O, Gill H, Tamura J, Nasri F, Lui LMW, Siegel A, Mansur RB, Rosenblat JD, McIntyre RS. Loneliness-based impaired reward system pathway: Theoretical and clinical analysis and application. Psychiatry Res 2021; 298:113800. [PMID: 33618235 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Loneliness is a key determinant in the etiology of mental health disorders such as depression and has profound impacts on health, quality of life, and economic productivity. This narrative review uses extant neurobiology and evolutionary literature to propose a construct through which loneliness may induce depression in adulthood via the reward system (including symptom and treatment aspects). Early childhood (distal) factors were found to be important in influencing adult (proximal) factors, which lead to the formulation of the construct. Due to the heterogenous and comorbid nature of depression, a new subtype known as 'reward depression' was distinguished along with distinct symptoms to aid practitioners when assessing patient treatment options. Furthermore, an evolutionary perspective was applied to the current impaired reward construct to discuss how the ancestral purpose and environment (in terms of reward) clashes with the modern one. Finally, theoretical treatment and prevention ideas were examined and discussed, leading into future work that needs to build upon and confirm the outlined construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linas Wilkialis
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nelson Rodrigues
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amna Majeed
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yena Lee
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Orly Lipsitz
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hartej Gill
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jocelyn Tamura
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Flora Nasri
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leanna M W Lui
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ashley Siegel
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rodrigo B Mansur
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joshua D Rosenblat
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Brooks SJ, Lochner C, Shoptaw S, Stein DJ. Using the research domain criteria (RDoC) to conceptualize impulsivity and compulsivity in relation to addiction. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2017; 235:177-218. [PMID: 29054288 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nomenclature for mental disorder was updated in 2013 with the publication of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). In DSM-5, substance use disorders are framed as more dimensional. First, the distinction between abuse and dependence is replaced by substance use. Second, the addictions section now covers both substances and behavioral addictions. This contemporary move toward dimensionality and transdiagnosis in the addictions and other disorders embrace accumulating cognitive-affective neurobiological evidence that is reflected in the United States' National Institutes of Health Research Domain Criteria (NIH RDoC). The RDoC calls for the further development of transdiagnostic approaches to psychopathy and includes five domains to improve research. Additionally, the RDoC suggests that these domains can be measured in terms of specific units of analysis. In line with these suggestions, recent publications have stimulated updated neurobiological conceptualizations of two transdiagnostic concepts, namely impulsivity and compulsivity and their interactions that are applicable to addictive disorders. However, there has not yet been a review to examine the constructs of impulsivity and compulsivity in relation to addiction in light of the research-oriented RDoC. By doing so it may become clearer as to whether impulsivity and compulsivity function antagonistically, complementarily or in some other way at the behavioral, cognitive, and neural level and how this relationship underpins addiction. Thus, here we consider research into impulsivity and compulsivity in light of the transdiagnostic RDoC to help better understand these concepts and their application to evidence-based clinical intervention for addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Brooks
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Christine Lochner
- US/UCT MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Steve Shoptaw
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dan J Stein
- US/UCT MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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