New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thinking, and given that it runs in families, researchers are focusing on genetic testing and analyses to pinpoint risk factors.
Recent genomic research has identified nearly 300 common genetic variants and over 20 rare variants as significant risk factors for schizophrenia.
Patrick Sullivan, of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP), the Yeargan Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Genetics at the UNC School of Medicine, along with researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, have developed a detailed overview of the genetics of schizophrenia.
Their comprehensive review, published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, comprises discoveries from extensive genome-wide association studies, whole-exome sequencing, and other analyses.
Concurrently, research on the brain’s functional organisation has illuminated the complex cellular composition and interconnections within the brains of both neurotypical individuals and those with schizophrenia, where apathy, social withdrawal, and poor emotional control are other symptoms.
The findings underscore the surprising complexity of schizophrenia’s mechanisms, pointing to the involvement of multiple genes rather than a single gene. This polygenicity presents challenges due to the absence of robust theoretical frameworks and experimental tools.
Sullivan and his colleagues reviewed these complexities and proposed future research directions in their Nature Reviews Neuroscience article. However, they also highlight the importance of environmental factors – such as lifestyle, drug use, poverty, stress, and birth complications – in addition to genetic risks.
While these factors are harder to study than the genome, they are crucial because some are modifiable. “The findings to date resoundingly indicate complexity,” wrote Sullivan, who also directs the UNC Center for Psychiatric Genomics and the UNC Suicide Prevention Institute.
“Rather than being a deterrent to future research, this knowledge underscores the importance of accepting schizophrenia as a genetic and environmental enigma and scaling our research accordingly to improve the lives of those impacted by schizophrenia.”
–IANS
ts/psd/vd
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
