Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Genes and Brain Disease

Large genetic input into brain disorders

I thought this was interesting because they are finally starting to put numbers on the impact of genetically-based diseases of the brain like schizophrenia. With this greater quantification will come greater financial resources dedicated to curing them - which at least some good news in all of this.

"A study shows that about 40 per cent of the societal burden of diseases of the brain and nervous system is attributable to genetic factors.

Previous research has suggested a role of genes in brain disorders such as stroke, depression and schizophrenia. Now scientists at the National Institutes of Health have surveyed all the evidence and put a figure on the contribution of genes to brain disease ? 40 per cent.