Over 80 Newly Discovered Genes Linked to the Development of Schizophrenia

Many mental health issues often have genetic links. However, pinpointing the source of the problem isn't always so easy.

With the largest genomic study published on psychiatric disorder, UCLA researchers found over 100 locations in the human genome associated with the development of schizophrenia: a chronic and disabling brain disorder that affects roughly one percent of the population. 

"As recently as five years ago, we still lacked proof that mental disorders had a genetic basis," said Dr. Nelson Freimer, a UCLA professor of psychiatry and director of the UCLA Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, who was part of the study, via Phys.org. "This work now demonstrates unequivocally that at least 100 distinct genes contribute to schizophrenia. By providing the strongest evidence to date for the biological underpinnings of mental illness, this study is of historic importance."

Characterized by hallucinations, paranoia and overall thought breakdown processes, the problem often emerges in in the teenage years or early 20s, and can have high costs for the individuals and society. Furthermore, estimates show that the health issue may cost around $60 billion annually in the United States alone. However, despite the need for new treatments, relatively few options remain. 

For their research, study authors examined the genetic codes of more than 150,000 people; from the sample, close to 37,000 had been diagnosed with the disease. Findings revealed 108 genetic markers for risk of the disease, including 83 that had not been previously reported.

Lead study author Dr. Michael O'Donovan, deputy director of the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics at Cardiff University School of Medicine in Wales, called the results a "big step" toward future drug therapies, according to Fox News.

Though scientists already know that families with autoimmune disorder are at higher risk for schizophrenia, the findings also reveal more about the immune system's role, according to Eric Lander, founding director of the Broad Institute.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Nature.