The location of a gene which causes schizophrenia coupled with the control
of certain environmental factors may one day eliminate the illness, a leading
researcher said today.
Dr John McGrath, of the Centre for Schizophrenia Research at the University
of Queensland, said schizophrenia had much in common with disorders like
spina bifida and cerebral palsy."When we'll eliminate it I don't know,"
Dr McGrath said. "But I think simple public health measures can help
prevent schizophrenia. I'm very optimistic." He said recent breakthroughs
in gene mapping had located the general area of the gene or genes which
researchers believe causes schizophrenia. "Once the genes are sorted
out we can find out what some of the other factors are," Dr McGrath
said. "So we have found the haystack, all we need is the needle."
Schizophrenia affects about one in 100 Australians.Studies have found that
if a person has a mother or father with the illness their chances of getting
it go up to about 12 per cent. If both parents suffer from schizophrenia
their offsprings' chances of contracting the illness goes up to about 50
per cent. Symptoms begin appearing in the late teens and 20s and include
hearing voices, having delusions, impaired communications and poor planning
and motivation. "There is a very strong genetic element in schizophrenia
but it's not just genetics, there are environmental factors as well,"
Dr McGrath told reporters at the Australian Society for Medical Research
conference at the ANA Hotel here. "There is evidence to suggest that
obstetric complications and prenatal exposure to the influenza virus may
be risk factors for schizophrenia. "If we can identify the gene that
puts people at risk then perhaps we can do something to prevent them developing
schizophrenia," he said.