This invention relates to method for reducing stress-induced overproduction of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in an individual, said method being aimed to modulate an overactive NPY system in said individual. The stress-induced overproduction is either counteracted by administering an antagonist, or in case the individual has a polymorphism comprising the substitution of the position 7 leucine for proline in the signal peptide part of the preproNPY, said individual is subjected to a method aimed to reduce or prevent expression of the mutated allele causing said polymorphism. The invention further concerns a method for diagnosing a person's susceptibility for having a risk for stress-induced overproduction of neuropeptide Y (NPY).
A METHOD FOR REDUCING STRESS-INDUCED OVERPRODUCTION OF NEUROPEPTIDE Y IN AN INDIVIDUAL