SCHIZOPHRENIA COULD BE CAUSED BY A WIDE VARIETY OF DNA MUTATIONS

INDEPENDENT UK - RATHER THAN ONE GENE - SCHIZOPHRENIA
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A wide variety of DNA mutations which differ from one person to another might play a decisive role in triggering schizophrenia according to two of the largest studies to date into the complex genetics of the mental disorder.

Doctors have long realized that there is a strong genetic component to schizophrenia, which affects one in 100 people at some time in their lives and tends to run in families, but the search of the “schizophrenia gene” has proved elusive.

Two independent studies that have analyzed the DNA sequences of patients and their parents – and compared them to healthy individuals – have found sets of key mutations that seem to interfere with the development of healthy nerve communications in the brain.

Scientists said that because so many mutations and genes are involved, it is unlikely that any two schizophrenia patients share exactly the same genetic faults, although the clinical symptoms may end up being similar.

“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 Professor Mick O’Donovan of Cardiff University, the joint leader of the research.

Mike Owen of the Medical Research Council’s Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, said: “This degree of convergence from several studies is unprecedented in schizophrenia genetics and tells us that for the first time we have a handle on one of the core brain processes that is disrupted in the disorder.”

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