May 23, 2024
In the last 15 years, scientists have made big strides in understanding the genetics of schizophrenia. They’ve found that it’s not caused by just one gene, but by many genes working together, some common and some rare.
These genes affect how brain cells communicate with each other, and they’re linked to other conditions like bipolar disorder and childhood developmental disorders.
However, even with all this progress, we still don’t have all the answers. Current genetic methods can only explain about 40% of the heritability of schizophrenia. This makes it tough to understand exactly how the genes cause the condition and how it’s related to other disorders.
To make more progress, scientists need to study more diverse groups of people and use new technologies like whole-genome sequencing. They also need to look at how genes affect the brain as it develops over time.
By combining genetic data with detailed information about symptoms, researchers hope to find better ways to diagnose and treat schizophrenia.
Source: Owen, M.J., Legge, S.E., Rees, E. et al. Genomic findings in schizophrenia and their implications. Mol Psychiatry 28, 3638–3647 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02293-8
