The Molecular Basis of Resilience: A Narrative Review

Resilience refers to the adaptability of a person - an ability to bounce-back from stressors. We question if resilience can be strengthened, potentially to decrease the risk of stress-related disorders. Unfortunately, the molecular origins of resilience are complicated and not yet well understood. In this review, we examine the various physiological biomarkers of resilience, including the associated genes, epigenetic changes, and protein biomarkers associated with resilient phenotypes. In addition to assessing biomarkers that may indicate higher levels of resilience, we also review at length the many biomarkers that confer lower levels of resilience and may lead to disorders of low resilience, such as anxiety and depression. This large and encompassing review may help to identify the possible therapeutic targets of resilience. Hopefully these studies will lead to a future where stress-related disorders can be prevented, rather than treated.

Automated summary

Resilience is the ability of an individual to bounce back from stressors, and researchers question whether it can be strengthened to decrease the risk of stress-related disorders. This review examines the physiological biomarkers of resilience, including associated genes, epigenetic changes, and protein biomarkers, with the aim of identifying therapeutic targets for resilience.