Genetic changes in mitochondrial DNA identified in patients with schizophrenia

The study was published in the journal Psychiatry Research and analyzed 80 samples.

TARRAGONA, May 28. (EUROPE PRESS) –

A study carried out by the Grup de Recerca en Genetica i Ambient en Psiquiatria (GAP) of the Father Virgili Institute for Sanitary Research (IISPV) and the Institut Pere Mata University Hospital (HUIPM) of Reus (Tarragona) revealed genetic changes in the DNA. mitochondria in patients with schizophrenia, which “opens a new way” for treating this disease.

This genetic component remains poorly understood in mental illness, so this discovery “underscores the importance of addressing it and taking it into account when searching for new treatments,” the centers said in a statement Tuesday.

For this study, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, 80 post-mortem samples (provided by the University of the Basque Country) were analyzed from both people with schizophrenia and other people who had not been diagnosed with any mental disorder.

It found that 35% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia had some change in mitochondrial DNA, and this percentage was “significantly lower” among people without any mental disorder (10%).

GENETIC FACTORS

“These results suggest that this change in mitochondrial DNA may be one of the genetic factors that plays a role in the development of the disease, along with other genetic and environmental factors,” says GAP co-investigator Lourdes Martorell.

To further confirm these findings, the results of this study “need to be confirmed by other studies and larger samples,” the researcher adds.

Previous research into mitochondrial genetics has led the team to suggest therapeutic ways to treat the symptoms of this disorder, and they believe that supplementing these patients’ diets with vitamin and mineral supplements and exercise helps improve their quality of life.