Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Neuregulin Gene Gains More Support as Schizophrenia Risk Gene

The BBC news service reported that yet another study has come out in support of the Neuregulin gene as being a likely schizophrenia risk gene.

The BBC noted

"An Edinburgh University team found people carrying a variant of a gene called neuregulin had a higher chance of developing psychotic symptoms".

The findings, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, could possibly point to new treatments.

The study followed 200 young people, all at a high risk of developing schizophrenia, for 10 years.

To investigate why some people go on to develop the condition and why others do not, the researchers carried out interviews, brain scans, psychological tests and genetic analysis.

They discovered participants who carried a variation of the neuregulin gene were much more likely to develop psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia, such as paranoia or hearing voices, than those without the gene variant.

Read the full story: Gene link to schizophrenia found (BBC)

Research Paper Source: A neuregulin 1 variant associated with abnormal cortical function and psychotic symptoms (Nature Neuroscience)

Other stories on the Neuregulin gene and schizophrenia:

Neuregulin-1 gene variation confirmed as predisposing people to schizophrenia

Neuregulin Gene linked to Schizophrenia

Altered Activity in Brain Receptors Points to Schizophrenia Complexity

More Information on How Genes Contribute to Schizophrenia