Harvard and Mass General Brigham Study Identifies Routine Blood Biomarkers Linked to PTSD Severity

New Harvard and Mass General Brigham research identifies 16 blood biomarkers that reveal the physical impact of PTSD on the heart, liver, and immune system.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

The Physiological Blueprint of Psychological Trauma

New research conducted by Mass General Brigham and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has unveiled a series of scalable blood based biomarkers that map the physical footprint of post traumatic stress disorder. By examining data from 23,743 adult participants within the Mass General Brigham Biobank, investigators were able to bridge the gap between psychiatric diagnoses and tangible physiological changes. The study utilized a combination of genomic data and electronic health records to confirm that the biological impact of the condition extends far beyond mental health, manifesting in measurable alterations to routine clinical lab results.

Mapping Multi System Biological Indicators

The investigation successfully identified 16 specific laboratory markers that consistently align with both the genetic risk for the disorder and a patient’s documented clinical history. These markers encompass a broad range of routine tests, including those for liver function indicators such as albumin and bilirubin, as well as essential metabolic measures like cholesterol and glucose. Furthermore, the analysis revealed significant correlations with red and white blood cell counts. According to lead author Younga Lee, an instructor at the Mass General Brigham Department of Psychiatry, these common tests may reveal the widespread physical impact of the condition on the human body.

Redefining PTSD as a Driver of Physical Disease

A critical component of the study involved determining the direction of the relationship between trauma and these biological changes. Through advanced genetic analysis, the researchers concluded that the condition likely causes these biomarker shifts rather than the biomarkers predisposing an individual to the disorder. This positioning of the psychiatric condition as an "upstream" contributor suggests it is a primary catalyst for adverse health profiles in cardiometabolic, immune, and hepatic systems. Lee noted that this multi system impact explains why untreated cases can have such devastating effects on a patient's overall physical longevity.