A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Cambridge looks for biological risk factors that may identify teens at risk for depression and anxiety. The researchers found a cognitive biomarker that may identify teens at high risk for developing depression and anxiety.  The marker is a variation of a certain gene: the short form of the serotonin transporter gene 5-HTTLPR. The study included 238 teenagers aged 15 to 18 years old to receive genetic testing and an environmental assessment.  The teens then took a computer test to find out how they process emotional information.  The participants had to decipher whether words were emotionally positive, emotionally negative, or neutral.  For example, blissful is positive, failure is negative, and range is neutral. The teens who were homozygous (meaning they inherited the same version … Read entire article »