A recent animal study has shed some light on anxiety and how scientists are able to predict it through genetic trends.

The May 13 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience highlighted a key factor on one of the causes of anxiety. The study focused on fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) which is a growth chemical essential to brain development and now known to be related to anxiety. The findings give scientists an advanced understanding of cellular growth mechanisms, which may be a future target for drug treatment.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “40 million Americans adults have anxiety disorders, and 14.8 million suffer from major depression.” The study left scientists curious if the two disorders have common causes.

Studies at the University of Michigan showed th