Mental Illness Genetic Risk Found

Researchers have uncovered more information about how genetics can determine the risk of schizophrenia and manic depression. Glasgow and Edinburgh University experts found damage to a gene involved in how the brain thinks increases risk. The team, writing in the magazine Science, say the finding could lead to the development of new drugs. But the researchers stress environmental factors also influence the odds of developing mental illness. Five years ago, the Scottish team identified a key faulty gene called DISC1, which acts as a “hub” gene, controlling other “spoke” genes around it. In the latest work, the team have shown that a second gene - phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) - also plays a crucial role. This gene was already known to be involved in brain development and memory storage. Damage to either or both genes can increase the risk of a mental health problem, the researchers say. The extent of the flaws influence what kind of illness someone has, and its severity, they suggest. Both genes determine the behaviour of one specific protein, which interact with each other. It is this interaction which scientists think could be targeted with drugs, perhaps by modifying the amount or quality of the DISC1 protein, or by changing the way the PDE4B protein behaves. The researchers worked along with scientists from the pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp & Dohme Limited.

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