5 Disorders Share Genetic Risk Factors, Study Finds

According to an article published in the New York Times, there are five psychiatric illnesses that share several genetic glitches, which are responsible for pushing the brain along a path toward mental illness. These psychiatric illnesses are bipolar disorder, autism, schizophrenia, major depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There are other factors that also influence mental illness such as other genetic issues as well as environmental factors. 

This study began in 2007 and included 60,000 people worldwide. Of these 60,000 people who were involved with the study, 33,332 were affected by mental illness and 27,888 that were not. Researchers examined the DNA from each participant searching for any variations. This study found four DNA areas that conferred a slight risk of psychiatric disorders. Two have been identified as genes that are part of the calcium channel. It is not clear what the other two genes are involved in or what they do.

I found this article to be interesting. The study that was preformed did produce good results however, I think further research is still required. Especially on the two genes that researchers are not sure of what their function is, maybe they are the key to creating a better treatment for psychiatric illnesses.

5 Disorders Share Same Genetic Risk Factors

Researchers studied 60,000 people’s DNA to learn more about the genetics of five psychiatric illnesses- schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, depression, and ADHD. Until now, scientists thought families with individuals with two different illnesses were the exception, but now they look to be the rule. The same type of genetic mutation could lead to two types of illnesses. Researchers found two regions of DNA that pose a risk for disorders that involve genes dealing with calcium channels, which help send signals in the brain. This finding could mean that treatment for altering calcium channels could help many of these disorders.

I think these findings are wonderful. It will allow doctors to diagnose illnesses based on DNA and solid evidence instead of symptoms that could sometimes be iffy. Also, if it really is true that one type of treatment could cure many disorders, than that means that a lot more people will be getting better in a lot less time, which, of course, is always a good thing.

Original Article

Related Article

Mental illness connected to Genetics

It has been speculated that the genetic make of a person may affect their mental stability. Dr. Smoller a professor at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital was an author of a paper that studied the genes involved in the signal process in the brain. The reason the researchers suspected a relation between genes and a persons mental disorders is,  because the case of twins.  It is vital that the researchers found specific genes that coded the specific signal system. There might be a way to found how the signals are getting disrupted and reverse the process.

The studied began with a looking at the genome of patient with  psychiatric illnesses.  Then it was compared to patients who did not have any psychiatric illnesses. The researchers could compare the psychiatric illnesses and determine if there was any variance to the other strand. It was speculated that two disorders involve the calcium channel. There are more studies being done to see if calcium channel blockers could affect the disorder.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/health/study-finds-genetic-risk-factors-shared-by-5-psychiatric-disorders.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22%7D&_r=0

New Genetic Risk Factor Discovered for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

  

     A team from The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered a factor in NDST3 that is likely to lead to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The risk factor was isolated using DNA from scizophrenic individuals as well as healty adults. The variant changes only a single letter, but can lead to devastating psychiatric illness. Bipolar and schizophrenia have long been hypothetically linked, and this new discovery combined with others further strengthens that theory (see the second link below).

    These articles resonate with me, since an isolated case of schizophrenia occured in my ancestry. While no one in my immediate family is known to have the disease, it's nice to know that we will eventually be able to test for these defects in our progeny. They are serious conditions, so any insight into their origins and methods is cetainly useful.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131119112815.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130811150815.htm

Genetic Similarities in Psychiatric Illnesses

Recently, one of the largest psychiatric studies to date was conducted worldwide. Its mission was clear: to identify if common DNA sequences exist among people suffering from different mental illnesses. A variety of over 60,000 affected people from 19 countries were evaluated. Findings revealed that common, debilitating illnesses such as Major Depression Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, Schizophrenia, and Autism all share similar genetic abnormalities. Normally, these types of illnesses have been diagnoses in reference to patients' symptoms, rather than strictly biological factors and "genetic aberrations." The similar defect linking the 5 aforementioned illnesses together pertained to faulty brain signaling system components. However, this finding is in no way simple. The complexity surrounding the ways in which the human brain functions, normally and abnormally, consists of endless gene variations.

What we identified here is probably just the tip of an iceberg,” said Dr. Jordan Smoller, lead author of the paper and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. “As these studies grow we expect to find additional genes that might overlap.”

Nevertheless, this study has brought up important questions regarding patterns of inheritance and risk factors associated with certain mental illnesses. The four DNA regions that were found to show similarities all coded for calcium channels that help with neuro-signaling  in the brain. This breakthrough is tremendous because now research can be done to see if certain pharmacology that alter calcium channel function can be used as effective treatment against a wide range of psychological disorders. If future trials yield positive results, this original study can finally provide sufferers the relief they have so desired.

[For more information: Please check out the following: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/health/study-finds-genetic-risk-factors-shared-by-5-psychiatric-disorders.html?_r=0 & http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2013/five-major-mental-disorders-share-genetic-roots.shtml]