Posted by linkadge on January 16, 2009, at 18:24:13
In reply to Re: Gene link: schizophrenia + Bipolar Disorder?, posted by Trans-Human on January 16, 2009, at 15:05:17
I would have to argue with some of the comments made above. It is true that, at this point in time, no conclusive biological casue of schizophrenia has been found. I would also agree that there is probably not one single gene responsable for the disease. This does not imply that, in the future, we will be able to discover the gene or genes responsable for certain subtypes of the disorder.
>I doubt that a biological cause will ever be >found. If they could isolate a specific >abnormality in brain function; which they can't, >it still wouldn't categorically prove biological >origin or basis; as cause.
I would have to disagree with the above. It is quite possible that they can, and will, locate the gene or genes responsable for certain subtypes of bipolar or schizohprenia. The fairly recent discovery, for instance, that Huntington's disease is a 100% genetic disorder is a good example of how specific genes can be identified as the cause of certain neurological disorders.
There have been some recent discoveries relating bipolar disorder to specific genes which regulate calcium, sodium and protein kinase function homeostasis is impressive and promising.
>Geneticists have conceded that no one Gene is >the cause of Schizophrenia & they have been >looking at how multiple genetic factors may >combine to produce the condition.
They have conceded that no one gene is responsable for the entire category of schizophrenia. This does not imply that a single gene or genes is not responsible for different subtypes of the disorder.
>Does it not strike anyone else as odd - >considering the vast amount of resources & time >that has gone into this - that the chemical >imbalance theory is still a theory & genetic >cause is as elusive as it always has been?
I think we have made some substantial progress in the understanding of mental disorders in the past 20 years. The reason we have not located a single gene is because we are not dealing with a single disorder.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:874305
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/874388.html