Researchers find genetic link between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
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A global research project involving Newcastle University scientists has confirmed a genetic link between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
The study published today in the international journal Nature Genetics has identified five regions of the human genome associated with schizophrenia.
The study confirms that a complex genetic variation contributes to an individual's likelihood of developing the mental illness.
Newcastle Professor Rodney Scott says there has been a belief that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are linked, but to date there'd been no evidence to prove it.
"Now this genetic study has identified two genetic loci that are common in both bipolar disease and schizophrenia," he said.
"This certainly has implications with respect to our future understanding of what the mechanisms are at the cellular level that give rise to the two diseases.
"At this point in time we don't know what all the different genetic factors are that result in schizophrenia.
"The importance of this study that it's identified clearly and unequivocally five new loci and the previous two loci that were already known."
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.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-19/researchers-find-genetic-link-between-biopolar-and-schizophrenia/2905856
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