New Evidence For the Genetics Underlying Schizophrenia

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Current research into the cause of schizophrenia validates the notion that there is no one gene responsible for schizophrenia’s onset.

The mutations that seem to trigger the development of schizophrenia affect many different genes. However, all these different genes have something in common—they encode proteins that work within the synapse, determining the quality of communication between our brain’s neurons. (A synapse is a tiny gap over which one nerve cell or neuron sends a signal to another neuron.)

It has been theorized for some time that schizophrenia symptoms likely arise from problems related to the synapses, but evidence for this has been slim until now.

Two Studies, One Result

Research done in the U.S. involved the analysis of DNA from 2,536 people with schizophrenia, and 2,543 control individuals. No single gene was found to underlie the disorder but genes involved in neural signaling had a higher rate of mutation in those with schizophrenia.

“That finding is sobering but also revealing. It suggests that many genes underlie risk for schizophrenia and so any two patients are unlikely to share the same profile of risk genes,” said researcher Dr. Purcell.

A second study completed in the United Kingdom looked for “de novo” mutations in the DNA of 623 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, and their parents. De novo mutations are those found in the DNA of someone with schizophrenia but are not carried by either parent. These mutations are considered highly damaging. The British findings were in sync with the U.S. study, pointing to a problem with genes involved in neuronal communication.

“The major insight of this research is that we’ve identified an area of biological function that is relevant to schizophrenia, and the causes of schizophrenia. We’ve not been able to say that with any confidence before,” said lead researcher Dr. Michael O’Donovan.

Evidence of the Obvious

These research findings make sense of some hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia such as disorganized thinking, difficulty expressing ideas, and easily losing one’s train of thought. It has long seemed apparent that there must be a problem in the brain’s transfer of information to create these symptoms, and now there is scientific evidence for it.

Researchers also note that the schizophrenia study outcomes identify an overlap in the underlying causes of intellectual disability, autism, and those of schizophrenia. “...[this] suggests that these disorders might share some common mechanisms,” said Dr. O’Donovan.

Source:Brain and Behavior Foundation

 
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