This video is a presentation at a CIRS conference – I Dream of GENIE Webinar — CIRSx: Joining the Mission in October 2021. Former physician at Linden & Arc Vitality institute, Dr. Michelle van der Westhuizen, was featured at the conference with Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker and CIRS Academy Faculty.
This is the abstract from the video presentation at CIRSx:”PTSD is a prevalent condition, although very underdiagnosed. We now have a transcriptomic (gene expression) marker, called FKBP5 to further assess PTSD and other chronic stressors. The upregulation of this gene tells us that a patient has an altered response to stress and likely limbic system dysregulation. This activated gene may lead to chronic disease and psychiatric conditions down the line. This presentation dives deep into FKBP5 – what is it, how does its activation disrupt our physiology, what illnesses may occur as a result. Also discussed are potential ways for us to manage this. Currently, this marker is only screened for in our CIRS patients, but has promising future applications in mental health and other illness.”
Below you can watch the full 30-minute presentation for the CIRSx Conference: