science
Study Finds Molecular Differences in Blood of 9/11 Responders With and Without PTSD
Researchers at Stony Brook University analyzed blood samples from 393 World Trade Center responders collected 18 years after the 2001 attacks. The study identified differences in 114 proteins and seven metabolites between those with and without PTSD. Fox News reported the findings published in Nature Communications.
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A study of World Trade Center responders found PTSD associated with molecular changes linked to accelerated biological aging and higher risk of chronic disease. Fox News reported that researchers at Stony Brook University tested blood samples from 393 responders collected about 18 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Of those sampled, 232 had PTSD diagnoses and 161 did not.
The analysis showed 114 proteins and seven metabolites differed between the groups. Changes appeared in markers tied to brain function, immune activity, energy metabolism, cell damage protection, and tissue repair. Signs of accelerated biological aging showed in the heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs among responders with PTSD.
Women made up 10 percent of the study group. "This study found that chronic PTSD is associated with long-lasting biological changes throughout the body, affecting multiple organs and biological systems decades after their traumatic exposure," Benjamin Luft, lead study author and director of the Stony Brook WTC Wellness Program, stated.
The study was funded in part by the CDC, the National Institute for Occupational Safety, and the National Institutes of Health.
It was published in Nature Communications. Luft noted that all measurements came from one time point, so the research shows association rather than direct causation. Additional studies are examining multiple time points to check whether protein and metabolite changes precede clinical shifts.
"From a public health and policy perspective, the study reinforces the importance of recognizing PTSD as a chronic medical condition with significant long-term health implications," Luft stated.
