Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders within the EU and cause considerable disability due to high prevalence (14 %), early onset and chronic nature. The major questions regarding anxiety disorders are which molecular and cellular events lead to and maintain pathological anxiety, and how this pathology can be normalized. We employ a multidisciplinary approach to understand the genetic and neurobiological basis of normal and pathological anxiety. The goal of our research is to facilitate development of targeted treatment of anxiety disorders by revealing the underlying biological mechanisms.
We have three main projects:
- We have carried out unbiased gene expression profiling in a preclinical model of psychosocial stress-induced anxiety. We found myelin plasticity as a robust brain response to such stress and are now investigating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms.
- Anxiety is associated with sleep disturbances and disturbed sleep increases anxiety. We investigate this bidirectional relationship by using behavioral, imaging, and circuit neuroscience tools in preclinical models, and epidemiological and genetic approaches in the FinnGen human sample.
- To study the genetic background of different anxiety disorders and their association with other psychiatric and somatic conditions, we carry out genetic studies in the longitudinal health-record-based FinnGen study.