When we think about trauma, most of us understand it as some type of adverse event that has a significant impact on our lives, with subsequent consequences for both physical and mental health.
A new study on the proteins in our brain explores their contribution to trauma, and how these brain proteins may help us mitigate the distress caused by painful memories of traumatic events.
Proteins are complex molecules that play vital roles in the structure and function of the human body. Though commonly associated with muscle growth and bone strength, proteins have thousands of additional responsibilities, including assisting with the formation and maintenance of long-term memories.
According to a recently published study from Virginia Tech, one of the many brain proteins involved in memory creation and storage could hold the key to alleviating the ongoing psychological distress that many trauma survivors experience.
This study, which appeared in the Jan. 24, 2024, edition of the Journal of Neuroscience, may also lead to advances in the treatment of memory loss.
The Neurobiology of Trauma and Impact on Mental Health
We often think of the body and mind as being two separate, distinct entities. The truth, of course, is that thoughts, emotions, and other psychological characteristics are the result of complex chemical, neurological, and biological processes.
The close relationship between the body and the mind becomes apparent when a person experiences a traumatic brain injury, a stroke, or another medical challenge that impacts how they think, feel, and interact with others. But the process can work in the other direction, too. Certain psychological concerns can lead to physical changes, especially within the brain.
For example, when a person endures one or more traumatic events, these experiences can cause long-term changes in multiple parts of their brain, including the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex:
- The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped area in the center of the brain associated with fear, motivation, and other emotions.
- The hippocampus, a large area within the temporal lobe, located at the back of the brain, plays a role in memory, learning, and some emotions.
- The prefrontal cortex (or PFC), located at the front of the brain, is responsible for executive functioning, planning, working memory, and personality.
As described in a December 2006 article by Dr. J. Douglas Bremmer, MD, studies involving people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) note a variety of brain changes, including the following:
- Smaller hippocampal volume
- Increased activity within the amygdala
- Decreased functioning in the prefrontal cortex
- Elevated production of norepinephrine and cortisol, two stress-related neurotransmitters
Since the human brain continues to change throughout the human lifespan, Bremmer explained, similar types of trauma can cause different types of neurobiological damage. The type of damage depends on how old the individual is when the trauma occurs.
Brain Proteins, Long-Term Memories, Trauma, and Mental Health
Research-based insights into how memories are formed and retrieved is extremely important for clinicians who are treating people with PTSD and other effects of trauma:
- Traumatic memories can cause considerable distress, to the point that they undermine the ability to live a full and productive life.
- The structural and functional impact of trauma on the brain (particularly within the PFC and hippocampus) is linked with deficits in various aspects of memory, including verbal, visual, and logical memory.
To expand their understanding of memory formation and retrieval, several scientists conducted research into the role of certain proteins within the brain.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes brain proteins as the internal machinery within both individual brain cells and the tissue that connects these cells. They’re also responsible for the production of neurons and neurotransmitters, which allow the brain to send messages throughout the central nervous system.
In July 2023, researchers with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine published a study on brain proteins and long-term memory. The research team attempted to understand how the brain stores memories for years or even decades, even though the proteins that form the initial memory typically last less than an hour.
As study author Sulgina Das, PhD, described in a release that accompanied the study, her team used high resonance imaging to observe how brain proteins continually activated one gene (called Arc), which caused it to produce additional identical proteins. These proteins, in turn, strengthened the synaptic connections where specific memories are stored.
Here’s how Dr. Das described the process:
“With each cycle, we saw more and more protein accumulating to form ‘hot spots’ at the synapse, which are where memories are cemented into place. We’d discovered a previously unknown feedback loop that explained how short-lived mRNAs and proteins can create long-lived memories.”
Dysfunction within the Arc gene is associated with a variety of neurological and cognitive concerns, including memory problems, autism spectrum disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The Virginia Tech Study
While Das’s team focused on the Arc gene’s ability to create new proteins, the Virginia Tech researchers mentioned above turned their attention toward a specific brain protein called RPT6.
As Das noted, the mRNA and proteins that create memories exist for a brief period. This is due to the proteasome complex, which breaks down proteins into their component amino acids, then recycles these amino acids for later reuse.
Experts previously thought the RPT6 protein only worked in the proteasome complex. What they didn’t know until the Virginia Tech team released their report is that RPT6 also does something else. It binds to DNA and increases the expression of other genes and proteins during memory formation.
“This indicates that RPT6 plays a unique dual role in memory formation, both inside and outside the proteasome complex,” Tim Jarome, one of the Virginia Tech researchers, said in a release about the study.
“We hope that this will help to inform new directions into understanding how gene expression is controlled during memory,” Jarome added. “In the long-term, this could lead to potential therapeutic targets for controlling and improving memory or treating maladaptive memories.”
Potential Advances in Trauma and Mental Health Treatment
Today, treatment for PTSD and other effects of trauma typically involves a variety of therapeutic approaches, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT):
- EMDR therapy is an eight-phase process that employs rapid bilateral eye movements to help minimize the emotional distress that patients feel when they recall certain traumatic memories.
- DBT promotes skill development in areas such as distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- TF-CBT is a short-term, solution-focused approach that helps people identify maladaptive thought patterns and helps them develop more effective coping skills..
Some prescription medications, including anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants, are also valuable components of trauma treatment.
Research into memory-related genes and proteins means that one day treatment professionals might directly address the areas of the brain where we store traumatic memories.
For example, in addition to easing the impact of certain symptoms and helping trauma patients develop more effective coping strategies, doctors may prescribe medications that can prevent patients from experiencing recurrent, intrusive trauma-related memories.
Considerable research remains before that happens – but every step toward a better understanding of how the brain handles traumatic memories is a step toward improved treatment outcomes for trauma patients.
Find Help Today
If you or someone that you care about has been struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder or another effect of untreated trauma, please know that help is available.
Crownview Psychiatric Institute offers comprehensive, personalized treatment services for adults with PTSD and other complex mental health disorders.
Our innovative approach to treatment includes integrative therapies, life- and work-skills education, adjunct services, and true wraparound support, all provided in a welcoming and supportive community-like environment.
To learn more about how we can help you or your loved one, please visit our Contact Us page or call our center today.
Gianna Melendez
Jodie Dahl, CpHT