Dr. Viktor Doshenko discussed the potential for a national genetic code and the biological impact of wartime stress in a TSN interview [1].
The analysis explores how prolonged trauma may alter the health of current citizens and the hereditary traits of future generations. Understanding these biological shifts is critical for developing long-term public health strategies in a conflict zone.
Doshenko, a medical science doctor, pathophysiologist, and geneticist, said to TSN correspondent Natali Nahorniy that he is exploring the concept of a "genetic code of the nation" [1]. He examined the relationship between the environment and genetics, specifically how the experience of war shapes a population.
One primary focus of the discussion was the effect of chronic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the human body [1]. Doshenko said these conditions can accelerate biological aging, meaning the body ages faster than the chronological calendar suggests.
The interview also addressed anhedonia, a condition where a person loses the ability to feel pleasure, as a consequence of prolonged trauma [1]. Such psychological states, when combined with chronic stress, can create lasting physiological changes in the body.
Doshenko said these changes could be passed down to children [1]. The discussion centered on how the wartime experience might influence the Ukrainian genome and the overall health of subsequent generations.
This intersection of genetics and trauma highlights the invisible toll of conflict—one that persists long after the physical violence ends [1].
“Chronic stress and PTSD can accelerate biological aging.”
The discussion suggests that wartime trauma is not merely a psychological burden but a biological one. If chronic stress and PTSD can accelerate cellular aging and influence genetic expression, the public health crisis in Ukraine may extend beyond immediate casualties to include a generational decline in biological resilience and mental well-being.
