Genes Associated With Autism Also Related to Schizophrenia

THURSDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) — Scientists have identified
33 genes associated with autism and related disorders, and they say
several of the genes also appear to be altered in people with
schizophrenia.

Of the 33 genes, 22 were identified as associated with autism for the
first time, according to the study, which currently appears online and is
scheduled for publication in the April 27 print issue of the journal
Cell.

“By sequencing the genomes of a group of children with
neurodevelopmental abnormalities, including autism, who were also known to
have abnormal chromosomes, we identified the precise points where the DNA
strands are disrupted and segments exchanged within or between
chromosomes,” senior study author James Gusella, director of the
Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Human Genetic Research, said in
a hospital news release. “As a result, we were able to discover a series
of genes that have a strong individual impact on these disorders.”

“We also found that many of these genes play a role in diverse clinical
situations — from severe intellectual disability to adult-onset
schizophrenia — leading to the conclusion that these genes are very
sensitive to even subtle perturbations,” Gusella added.

The researchers screened the genomes of 38 people with autism or other
neurodevelopmental disorders. A significant number of the genes linked
with autism also appear to be associated with schizophrenia and other
psychiatric disorders.

“The theory that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder has
long been hypothesized, but we are just now beginning to uncover specific
portions of the genetic underpinnings that may support that theory,” study
author Michael Talkowski, also of Massachusetts General Hospital, said in
the news release.

“We also found that different gene variations — deletion, duplication
or inactivation — can result in very similar effects, while two similar
changes at the same site might have very different neurodevelopmental
manifestations,” Talkowski said. “We suspected that the genetic causes of
autism and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities are complex and likely
to involve many genes, and our data support this.”

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has
more about autism.

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