Sun or Rain?

With summer quickly approaching us, many of us are happy because of the positive mood brought by the sun. I am one of the people who get happy after looking at a bright yellow sky. I experience melancholy after looking at a gray overcast sky. I am sure many of you have weather dependent mood. Rainy days remind me of sad memories. However, sunny days inspire me to approach the “carpe diem” policy. In simpler words, I like to seize the day by living every moment of it and being productive. I realized that my parents experience the same joy and productivity when the sun is shining bright. Hence, I wonder if the happiness brought by the sun is genes? Do people experience a different type of mood when they see the sun? 

After researching many articles, I came across a common gene that might be involved in season-based mood changes. The gene that expresses the serotonin transported plays a huge role in season-based mood changes. These season based mood changes are inherited as various twin studies supported this hypothesis. In these twin studies, many twins suffered from the same mood swings in a typical season. 

The gene mentioned earlier is known as the 5-HTT gene which expresses the serotonin transporter. The serotonin transporter is crucial for the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is often linked to depression. A low level of the neurotransmitter, serotonin can be associated with depression as the primary function of the neurotransmitter is to regulate mood. It is often observed in a depressed patient that the serotonin transporter is very active as compared to healthy individuals. This means that the serotonin is not available for the brain is necessary amounts and hence a person suffers from depression. There can be many causes for depression including prolonged stress or this condition can be inherited. We can also question whether the season based mood changes are associated with the same gene. There is evidence that it can be. The expression of this gene is regulated by the fact whether certain nucleotides are added or deleted. If the allele of the 5 HTT gene is short (perhaps there have been many nucleotide deletions) then it can be associated with seasonal affective disorder. Interestingly what the researchers found in their study was that the volunteers with 44 base pair deletions in the allele experienced this kind of depression based on the season (Willeit et al., 2003). Now, what exactly causes these genes to understand it is shiny outside is unclear. Maybe this gene senses the light and prohibits its expression. Or there is some other mechanism which we are unaware of. 

But here are some tips to combat season affective disorder where you can stay happy and productive even in winter. You can stay in contact with your family and friends and ask them for help when a sudden feeling of loneliness strikes. There is also an option to introduce artificial light in the form of bulbs. Also exercising is a good option!