Depression: Pioneering study pinpoints 44 genetic culprits

         From a new study it was found that the genetic data of thousands of participants identified 44 genetic loci linked with the risk of depression. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. Some risk factors of depression are the combinations of biological, environmental, and of a psychological nature. Inherited genetic variations are apart of the biological factors, however before this study researchers have had a hard time pinpointing which genetic locations in our DNA are directly linked with having a higher risk of depression. 

       The researchers managed to access and analyze seven different sets of genetic data, as well as identified 44 genetic loci that are linked with the risk of depression. Of these 44, 30 of them were not known before to be risk factors. The study resulted in them discovering that there are 153 genes linked with depression. This could lead to the improvement of  treatments for this condition.
        In my opinion these results are very important and could have large impact on future studies. Being in college there are many students that get over whelmed with school work and end up becoming depressed. It affects many people all around us. The results of this study can lead to further studies for developing better treatments that target genetic factors involved in depression. This can be the beginning of finding a way to prevent major depression. 

Link to article:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321652.php
Link to more information:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/depression-causes-symptoms-treatments-8933

Genetic Heart Disease Risk Eased by Healthy Habits, Study Finds

A new study has found that by living right you can lower your risk of heart disease , no matter how high your genetic risk. Living right means not smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet, and exercising moderately. Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, the director of the Center for Human Genetic Research at Massachusetts General Hospital said, “DNA is not destiny; it is not deterministic for this disease. You do have control over the problem, even if you have been dealt a bad genetic hand.” The scientists found that genes can double the risk of heart disease, but with a healthy lifestyle you can split that. But in return, a horrible lifestyle can erase almost half of the benefits of good genetics. There were multiple groups with a high number of participants that were analyzed, which has never been done before to this degree. Overall, the experiment showed that it’s not a situation where it’s either nature or nurture, it is both. They developed a genetic score based on the 50 genes associated with heart disease. A lifestyle score was also developed based on if people smoked, ate well, exercised, or were obese. The ideal lifestyle score would have at least three or the four elements. The biggest change you could make is going from a terrible lifestyle to one that is moderately positive. Basically, its all up to you to have a healthy lifestyle so you can live a long life.

Don't Always Blame it on your Genes

Heart disease is something that is very constantly and easily linked with genetics. Most people tend to blame their genes for it. But a recent study shows that it can't always be the answer. There are several factors that play a role on it including exercising, not smoking and eating a healthy diet. Dr. Sekar Kathiresan states, “DNA is not destiny; it is not deterministic for this disease”. Even if someone’s genetic destiny shows something, they always have some control over it. Dr. Kathiresan and his colleagues did an experiment to test whether an individuals lifestyle can largely effect ones chance of getting heart disease.

Coronary heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the world. It takes the lives of 365,000 people annually in the United States, and 17.3 million worldwide. Dr. Kathiresan’s team found that while genes can double the risk of heart disease, a good healthy lifestyle could cut it in half. In addition, they found that a lifestyle consisting of bad habits erases half of the benefits of good genetics.

Several studies show the positive effects of a healthy lifestyle and how it can significantly reduce the chances of getting heart disease.  In one study, a group of black and white Americans aged 45 to 64 cut their likelihood of getting heart disease from 5.7 percent to 10.7 percent. These individuals had the highest genetic risk to begin with and the study shows the very positive effects of a healthy lifestyle. In another study, 21,222 American women aged 45 and older cut their 10 year risk from 4.6 percent to 2 percent. These women were health professionals and had a healthy lifestyle.

I think this is very important study as it shines a light on factors other than genetic inheritance that can cause heart disease. Dr. Katherisan states, "A poor man's substitute is 'My dad died at 45 of a heart attack. I have a strong family history.'" This study shows that individuals who have a high genetic risk factor of getting heart disease have the power to reduce their chances of getting it with a simple change in lifestyle.

Evolution vs Older Dads

What does natural selection have against older fathers? The article Evolution is not kind to older dads found on ScienceMag looks further into the truth and reasoning of why kids born to older fathers are less likely to have children of their own.

It is a commonly known phenomenon that as dads get older, their chances of producing offspring without mutations get slimmer and slimmer, however, what is less talked about is the risk that their children then face when having offspring of their own. Some of these mutations can be harmless while others can significantly increase the risk for certain diseases. Colleagues at the University of Göttingen in Germany studied and analyzed census records from 17th and 18th century Germany, Canada and Sweden, as well as from 20th century Sweden. The study showed that in both populations, children born to older fathers had fewer kids of their own that survived past the age of 5. For each decade that a father aged, his children had around 10% fewer children of their own.

According to WebMD, studies have found that those born to fathers 45 and older were more likely to have children with mental health problems (autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD) as well as rare genetic disorders, such as dwarfism, due to an increase in mutations in an older man's sperm.

As explained in the article, the daughter of a 17th century farmer may have been cursed with a weakened immune system or a malfunctioning heart, leading to possibly an early death sentence or at least prevented her from having her own children. Being born in the 21st center, however, would dramatically increased the child's chances of a long and productive life thanks to modern medicine. The percentage of Swedish babies that survive up to 1 year of age is above 99%, whereas 200 years ago, fewer than 90% survived past 1 year.

Babies born prematurely or with birth defects are now more likely to live. Well then why do children born to older fathers still show to have fewer kids of their own that survive past the age of 5? Just because kids born to older fathers are surviving longer, doesn't necessarily mean they're able to reproduce properly when they reach adulthood. They could struggle with infertility or have a condition like autism that makes it harder to find a partner. For some it could even be a matter of choice. Parents who are at high risk to have offspring with a certain mutation might decide to adopt instead.

Don't be alarmed, the portion affected by this is still extremely low in respect to the human population. Some scientists still argue that if the reproduction of the children of older fathers is greatly decreased, harmful mutations could make their way out of our gene pool. I really look forward to the findings of new discoveries related to this topic. Maybe in the future there will be more available resources for older men to have their sperm monitored for mutations or to get their sperm frozen and preserved before they grow older than the "age of risk". If this article relates to you or your family members, don't panic, Hugh Hefner had his last child at the age of 66, and his son turned out just fine (well, debatable).

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

New Genetic Test for Breast Cancer Hold Promise

Genetic screening for breast cancer and ovarian cancer is a very costly yet important test for all middle aged women.  Due to the expensive cost, most women are neglected of a life saving screening.  Thanks to a new Silicon Valley start up, a cheaper yet efficient testing for breast and ovarian cancer has emerged.  This new screening only requires a sample of saliva to test for mutations in high risks genes and it only costs a fraction of what a normal screening would cost.  Although these lower prices will allow more women to take the screening, they can also result in more women being told that they have mutations that cannot be classified as either dangerous or benign.  A normal screening may be more expensive but it would provide a complete analysis of all mutations found in order to provide a more definitive answer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/business/more-accurate-affordable-tests-for-detecting-breast-cancer-genes.html?_r=0
This article was very interesting to me.  I know a lot of people who do not have the means of taking a breast cancer screening and that this new saliva test would definitely be a good way to screen people.  I do agree with the article noting that this may lead to false positives due to the automated nature of the saliva test.  This is a great first step in detecting risk probability of certain cancers in women, but it is missing certain elements such as genetic counseling and and extensive testing of the mutations in the risk genes.

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

Link Between Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Found

A recent study into the genetic imperatives of schizophrenia has found a total of seven locations on the genome that have been linked to the disease. A previous study into Bipolar disorder revealed a finding of four genes linked to the ailment. Interestingly enough, three of these genes crossover and are some of the same ones found on schizophrenia, thereby confirming the link between the two disorders. Researchers previously had already suggested that the two disorders were linked, but never had any definitive proof. Due to the complexity of the diseases, it was difficult to dissociate the different genes complexes and environmental factors involved. These studies have allowed scientists to identify a whole host of genetic risk factors associated with the two disorders. Furthermore, by knowing exactly which genes trigger which psychosis, researchers can now develop more effective drugs to target those specific areas.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-powerful-genetic-psychosis-date.html (Article Link)