In total, 50 percent of our happiness is determined by the genes we carry, 40 percent by the things we do, and 10 percent by the circumstances of our lives. This is what Dr. Radostina Alexandrova from the Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with a Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) told BTA on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness, which has been celebrated on the initiative of the United Nations since 2013 on March 20.
She recalls that for centuries poets, artists and musicians painted with their imaginations the image of happiness and sought a cure for the wounds of the soul that its lack mercilessly inflicts. Science also wants to reveal the secret of happiness. What do we know today? Is there a recipe for happiness and what are its main ingredients? Myth or reality are the genes of happiness and who are our natural allies in our attempts to “take it by the hand”, Prof. Radostina Alexandrova answers these questions.
The molecules of happiness
The main molecules of happiness are serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin and cortisol. Their effects range from increasing pleasure and satisfaction to controlling stress and anxiety. Quite expectedly, they are mainly from the group of neurotransmitters, which, as their name suggests, carry out communication between the cells of the nervous system, the virologist explained.
Dopamine and serotonin are important for positive mood and emotions. Serotonin is associated with happiness and calmness, and dopamine with reward (getting something more than expected) and motivation. If we are pleasantly surprised with a piece of chocolate, our dopamine levels will rise as we eat it. However, when receiving it is not unexpected (because we have a whole box of this treat at our desk), our dopamine response may be lower.
Oxytocin helps us feel loved and connected to others. It is called the “love chemical” because it is released during hugs and kisses.
Endorphins are natural pain relievers. They raise mood levels, are released when we laugh, listen to music, have sex or eat chocolate, they are a source of euphoria. Cortisol plays a key role in stress management, and abnormalities in its secretion are associated with depression and anxiety, explains Prof. Alexandrova.
Are there genes that directly affect happiness?
Have you ever wondered why some people seem happier than others, even though they are in the same situation, notes Prof. Alexandrova.
She reported that studies of identical twins (100% genetic similarity) and fraternal twins (50% genetic similarity) raised together or separated soon after birth revealed that genetic factors were responsible for 35-50% of our happiness.
Business card
Professor Radostina Alexandrova is a Bulgarian biologist with professional interests in the fields of cell and molecular biology, virology, immunology, experimental oncology and oncopharmacology, tissue engineering (bone tissue modeling) and pathobiochemistry.
In 1991, Radostina Alexandrova graduated with honors in the specialty “Biochemistry and Microbiology” (today “Molecular Biology”) at the Faculty of Biology of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, with a specialization in “Virusology”. He has a doctorate in virology and is a professor of morphology.
Prof. Radostina Alexandrova works at the Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with a Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IEMPAM-BAS). She specializes in Slovakia, Hungary and Denmark. He is a member of the editorial boards of several Bulgarian and international scientific journals, the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Anatomical Society.
The subjective feeling of happiness is assessed on a specially developed and scientifically accepted scale. Finding special genes for happiness is a difficult task. One of the first “suspects” (5-HTTLPR) is responsible for the distribution of serotonin in brain cells. Two forms of it are recognized, designated as L and S. It turns out that of the people who have the L-version, 69% are satisfied or very satisfied with life, while for the carriers of S this applies to only 19%. Another gene (MAO-A) is located on the sex chromosome X and is important for the metabolism of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Research shows that women in whom this gene is less pronounced are defined as happier.
A breakthrough in our knowledge came in 2016, when three genes related to our subjective feeling of happiness were identified – two genes whose variants cause depressive symptoms and 11 genes related to the manifestations of neuroticism. It is the result of a large-scale international study that covered 298,000 people and united the efforts of over 190 specialists. The paper was published in the journal Nature Genetics and is just the beginning of a long road ahead in the search for answers, she says.
Each of us has some baseline level of happiness
According to one hypothesis, each of us seems to have some baseline level of happiness that remains relatively constant, even after the positive and negative events that fate throws at us. Popularity in this regard was gained by a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 1978. It examined the “state of happiness” of three groups of people: 22 people who had won large lotteries; 29 people who were victims of an accident, as a result of which they received disabilities (paralysis), and 22 controls (people to whom similar events did not happen). It turns out that the winners of the lottery were not happier than the controls, says Prof. Radostina Alexandrova.
And he adds that this is also the conclusion of an article in Scientific Reports from 2023. In it, scientists found that genetic factors have a continuous effect on happiness and well-being throughout our lives.
What is the happiness chart?
50 percent of our happiness is determined by the genes we carry, 40 percent by the things we do and 10 percent by the circumstances of our lives, she says.
And he explains that this diagram, also called the “happiness pie,” was proposed in 2005 by researchers Sonya Lubomirsky, Cannon M. Sheldon, and David Schade. Their report appeared in the journal General Psychology and sparked a lively debate in scientific circles. According to some experts, the hereditary components of happiness reach 70-80 percent. Others remind us that our genes, life circumstances, and activities are not three isolated factors that individually shape our happiness, but can mutually influence each other. In addition, the term “life circumstances” is extremely broad.
The chart has since been corrected. According to them, 30-40% of differences in happiness are genetically determined, and the rest is a consequence of environmental influences that are unique to each individual.
Do viruses affect happiness?
Recently, scientists investigated how different types of cells respond to SARS-CoV-2 infection, including lung, heart, pancreatic beta cells and many others. It turned out that the aging pathway is activated only in dopaminergic neurons (nerve cells functioning under the influence of dopamine). Such lesions are seen in about 5 percent of dopaminergic neurons, and this is not the case in all individuals infected with the coronavirus. It remains to be seen whether this finding, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell in January 2024, will help us better understand neurological symptoms in people with long-term Covid, including brain fog. It is here to note that dopamine performs a number of important functions, including those related to sleep, concentration and memory, Prof. Alexandrova said.
According to her, the good news is that specialists have found three well-known drugs in medicine that could counteract the attacks of SARS-CoV-2 on dopaminergic neurons.
In the meantime, scientists’ attention is focused on the search for a possible link between viruses and mental health. Available evidence suggests that some viruses may contribute to the development of depression by directly affecting certain types of cells in the brain (called glial cells) or by damaging the immune responses they trigger. Among them are the Borna virus, HIV, some herpes viruses, the Zika virus.
Does the gut microbiome have anything to do with it?
Microorganisms that inhabit our intestines influence our emotions through the so-called gut-brain axis. The relationship is two-way and is not surprising, not least because in the course of the physiological activity of intestinal bacteria, various biologically active substances are formed, including neurotransmitters. Ninety percent of serotonin receptors are found in the gut. Changes in the ratios of some groups of microorganisms have been reported in the gut of people with major depressive disorders compared to healthy individuals. However, we still do not know whether the described changes have anything to do with this disease, whether they are a consequence or a cause, explained Prof. Radostina Alexandrova.
She noted that the study of the gut microbiome, the factors that affect its composition and condition (diet, environment, season, health of the host, etc.) and its importance to our health and well-being is among the main directions in modern biomedicine.
Are we the “smiths” of our own happiness?
According to scientists, our current knowledge is only a small part of the puzzle that has yet to be put together to unravel the biological secrets of happiness. The genes found are responsible for less than 1% of the variation in happiness between people. It is possible that thousands of genetic variants are involved, whose individual contribution is small and difficult to measure. Let’s not forget that not only the information written in DNA (genetics), but also the way it is read (epigenetics) is important, said the biologist.
“We, people, are much more than molecules, cells, percentages and diagrams. And with desire, love and will we can create miracles”, said Prof. Alexandrova.
“We often tend to think that big events are what make us happy. A rocking new romantic relationship, a coveted victory, a well-deserved promotion, an unexpected profit, a valuable acquisition. But how often do they happen and how long does the euphoria of them last! It can we should open our hearts to those little things that bring us joy and smile every day. Isn’t learning to find happiness in ourselves and in the world around us one of the wisest lessons in our lives.” commented Prof. Radostina Alexandrova.
#happiness #depends #genes #actions #life #circumstances
