Researchers discover new genetic links to schizophrenia -
The discovery of more than a hundred genetic risk factors for schizophrenia provides new clues in the vital understanding of what causes the condition and will kick off the search for new treatments, according to scientists from the United Kingdom.
In the largest molecular genetic study of schizophrenia ever undertaken, genetics psychiatric Consortium (PGC), led by Professor Michael O'Donovan of the MRC Centre of Cardiff University for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics combined all schizophrenia samples available in a new analysis, only systematic.
study is the result of several years of work by the psychiatric Schizophrenia Working Group Genomics Consortium, an international, multi-institutional collaboration of over 300 scientists in 35 countries worldwide.
"We were able to detect genetic risk factors on a massive scale and unprecedented and shed new light on the biological basis of the state", according to Professor O Donovan who led 'study.
a total examination of 80,000 samples from patients with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers worldwide study, published in Nature , has found 108 specific locations in the human genome linked to schizophrenia, 83 were entirely new.
The new findings also suggest new biological mechanisms and pathways. For example, as the authors had expected, the study involves genes expressed in brain tissue, but it also found genes associated with schizophrenia have been particularly active in the immune system.
"These remarkable results have been made possible through collaboration comprehensive approach," according to Professor Sir Michael Owen, Director of the MRC Centre of Cardiff University for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics.
"Detecting biological risk factors at this level shows that schizophrenia can be treated with the same approaches that have transformed the results for people with other diseases.
" We believe that now they can also do for schizophrenia which has hitherto been so misunderstood, "he added.
schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects more than 24M people the world.
the disorder is highly variable, but is characterized by a combination of hallucinations, delusions such as paranoia, mood swings, apathy and social withdrawal, among others, often emerges in teens and early 20s
His lifelong impact on individuals and society is high, both in terms of healthy life years lost to disability and in terms financial cost.
Many respond well to treatment, but for many who do not meet the options are limited largely because biological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia are not included.
The Professor O'Donovan now hope the wealth of new discoveries will help initiate the search for new treatments he added: "While we are very excited by the results, it is important not to exaggerate or misinterpret. "We are still in the early days of trying to understand what causes the disease but collaborations such as this and new genetic tools mean that we are in a unique position.
" Make full use this research to the treatment will be a long game medium, but since some of our findings emphasize already known targets for existing treatments, it is reasonable to expect that others could do the same within a time shorter time.
"The wealth of new discoveries provides a large number of launch pads for the understanding of the disease and will revive the stalled process of developing new treatments for patients and their families who are still today stigmatized and blamed for the condition.
"The main challenge now is to translate this new knowledge about the biological basis of schizophrenia, new diagnostic tools and new treatments for patients and finally put an end to 60 years of waiting for new treatments for people around the world. "
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