I have long been skeptical of efforts to find a single gene or gene mutation relevant to any particular mental illness. After decades’ worth of such research, we are seemingly no closer to finding such genes or gene mutations. It is a frustrating effort.
As I wrote five years ago, genes and gene mutations for schizophrenia don’t seem to really help our understanding of the underlying causes of this disorder. They have, however, been extremely successful in showing how incredibly complex a disorder like schizophrenia really is.
New research published in Nature lends further evidence to this complexity. The combined effects of many genes and gene mutations are implicated in schizophrenia.
The Conversation’s Annabel Bligh has the story:
Many studies have shown that schizophrenia runs in families and so genes are undoubtedly a factor. A tenth of people with schizophrenia have a parent with the condition. But, despite its high heritability, a large number of individuals with schizophrenia do not have a family history of the disease.
The search for a “schizophrenia gene”, though popular, has not proved fruitful. This research sheds light on how genetics plays a role in cases which have not been inherited.
The new study was conducted on the blood DNA taken from nearly 7,000 Bulgarians and Swedes, examining those who were diagnosed with schizophrenia and comparing them to others without the disorder.
Scientists were able to pinpoint the sites of gene mutations and identify patterns that reveal clues about the biology underlying schizophrenia. Rather than finding only a few “faulty” genes, the two studies determine that the genetic basis of schizophrenia is tremendously complex. The data confirms that it is a very large number of rare genetic mutations that contribute to risk of developing the disorder.
The gene mutations found in this latest research account for only 5 percent of schizophrenia cases — leaving a whopping 95 percent of people with schizophrenia without any answers. This new research is consistent with past research into schizophrenia genetics — the mutations account for only a small portion of those afflicted.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects only a tiny percentage of people with a mental illness — less than 1 percent of the population. It’s well-known symptoms include persistent hallucinations and delusions. People with schizophrenia tend to suffer from the disorder most of their adult lives, with onset typically occurring in one’s twenties. Medication and therapy typically help those with schizophrenia, but often people suffer from continuing symptoms throughout their life.
The good news is that as technological improvements progress, so does our ability to quickly analyze the huge amounts of data analysis needed to find relationships among genes and gene mutations. We’re now digging deeper into our DNA than ever before — enhancing our understanding of the genetic foundation of schizophrenia.
I’ve never been convinced that genetics explains as much about schizophrenia as some researchers believe. I’m certain it’s a part of the complex puzzle of schizophrenia, but any solution tied to genetics will not be a solution of relevance to most people with this disorder.
Read the full article: The genetics behind schizophrenia just got more complex
Image: Darryl Leja, NHGRI
6 comments
I have a simple explanation… It’s demonic. Period!
Hi John,
Agreeing for the most part with your article. However, it is now definitively proven that 1 in 4 of children born with 22q11.2 Deletion syndrome will develop schizophrenia. Don’t need to see the clinical research on this one, have now seen the evidence borne out within the global support groups.
There is not enough research done on how environmental factors can impact on the condition however and why some are more adversely affected than others. Stigma plays a huge role also.
The impact of 22q11.2 Deletion syndrome is so diverse and implicated in so many different disorders and developmental problems, I’m not sure that it matters much that only 1 in 4 will get schizophrenia. I would say that for many people with 22q11.2 Deletion syndrome, this would be the least of their problems.
I have to emphasize — this accounts for a tiny percentage of people who have schizophrenia.
There are a lot of syndromes that have diverse effects with a wide array of developmental problems, but none of them have a 25-35% risk of schizophrenia the way 22q11.2 DS does. I don’t get how you can say that you’re “not sure if it matters” that there is that high of a risk. As a parent of a child with 22q11.2 DS, and a severe case at that, I would actually say schizophrenia is actually at the top of my list of concerns. It is hellish to know that your child is at such a high risk for such a severe psychiatric illness. I hope researchers continue to look at this genetic connection even if it only accounts for a fraction of those with schizophrenia.
I have read some about this condition because of a family member being afflicted. I ran across something else also doctor that was of interest. I have read that about 20% of patients in mental hospitals even today, may have contracted an STD at some time. So I have been under the assumption that some damage to the brain can also produce such symptoms. Is this true? I in the end concluded that there might be any number of things that contribute to this condition.
Don’t you think that providing information about the genetic factor of a disease to a potential patient or caregiver can amplify the feeling of hopelessness or give a sensation of predestined tragedy to the sufferers? Amplifying their suffering would exacerbate their condition don’t you think? And the so called genetic factor has only been deduced from family studies where the emotional environment is common and cannot be clearly separated from any genetics. I’m getting a very sinister feeling from the way psychiatry sees these suffering people.