Twin study helps explain fainting

Fainting has complex causes involving both genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, a new study of twins led by the University of Melbourne and Austin Health has shown.

The research found that identical twins were nearly twice as likely to both faint compared to non identical twins.
Study author Professor Sam Berkovic from the University of Melbourne (based at Austin Health), says the question of whether fainting was caused by genetic factors, environmental factors or a mixture of both had been the subject of much debate.

“This twins study has revealed the complex causes of fainting are both genetic and environmental,” he says.

Fainting, also called vasovagal syncope, is a brief loss of consciousness when your body reacts to certain triggers, such as experiencing heat, pain, distress, anxiety, hyperventilating or the sight of blood.

Around 25 per cent of the population faint at some time in their life. While fainting is normally a very mild condition, it can cause blackouts and dizziness and can be confused with epilepsy.

Professor Berkovic says the mechanisms of fainting were poorly understood.

“More information about the genetic and environmental mechanisms behind the condition will improve treatments for those who suffer frequent fainting attacks as well as improving diagnosis,” he says.

The study was published in the prestigious international journal Neurology.

Recruited from the Australian Twin Registry for the study, 51 sets of twins of the same gender between the ages of nine and 69 with a history of fainting completed a telephone questionnaire. Researchers also gathered information about any family history of fainting.

Results revealed 57 per cent of the 51 sets of twins reported having typical fainting triggers.

Identical twins reported more episodes of fainting and environmental triggers to fainting than fraternal or non identical twins.
Identical twins were much more likely to both experience fainting associated with typical triggers than fraternal twins.

The frequency of fainting in non-twin relatives was low, suggesting that the way fainting is inherited is usually not by a single gene.

“Our results suggest that while fainting appears to have a strong genetic component, there may be multiple genes and multiple environmental factors that influence the phenomenon,” Professor Berkovic says.

The study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia.

www.mdhs.unimelb.edu.au