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Despite the fact that many scientists adhere to the hypothesis of the genetic origin of schizophrenia, it is not yet possible to identify the defective gene by expert means.
At the stage of gestation, geneticists can only predict certain risks and point to defects that have already manifested themselves in the womb. And then, only if one gene is responsible for the disease. But there are diseases for which «the stars must converge» from a dozen genetic anomalies! It is practically impossible to determine such a combination in advance.
Genes alone are not enough
For example, such a common disease as rheumatism is not hereditary, because in order to receive a diagnosis, it is not enough just to have rheumatism genes in the arsenal. A person should have a history of group A hemolytic streptococcus in combination with reduced immunity.
In patients with schizophrenia, things are even more complicated, they can have such different combinations of defective genes that it is simply not possible to identify at least some regularity. But there is something in common in all these cases, for example, the direction of the development of the disease — all genetic «features» affect certain brain structures, preventing their normal development.
By the way, it has been proven that the risk of getting schizophrenia increases eight times if the genes on the sixteenth chromosome are defective and sixteen times if the genes on the third chromosome are damaged.
The trigger for the disease, what is it?
Alas, until geneticists have come up with any adequate tests for predisposition to schizophrenia, all attempts invariably fail due to the fact that none of the scientists has yet been able to draw up an accurate profile of a patient with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia, like rheumatism, needs a catalyst. This explains the fact that even carriers of a complete set of defective genes can live their entire lives without getting sick. But the problem is that no one knows what can serve as an impetus for the development of the disease. Even in identical twins, whose genes are completely identical, this difference can be noticeable. One child can be ill with schizophrenia, and the second will not only not have the disease, but the chance of getting sick with it will not exceed forty-six percent! And all because the sick twin had a part of the genes «blocked» by the methyl group, which led to a violation of the development of certain parts of the brain. Very little is known about the origin of this very group, scientists only suggest that the flu virus transmitted by the mother during pregnancy may be the cause of its appearance.
This hypothesis is confirmed by recent virological studies, which have determined the risk of schizophrenia in children of mothers who have had the flu during gestation, which has increased up to seven times!
The flu was the catalyst, provoking an overly strong mother’s immune system to such an inadequate immune response. Although, it is worth noting that even such a combination of circumstances does not always provoke the development of mental abnormalities in a child.
Absence is not a guarantee!
The paradox of the situation lies in the fact that even if a person does not have defective schizophrenia genes, this does not at all guarantee that in the future he will not be able to get a terrible disease. So, at least ten percent of patients in psychiatric clinics diagnosed with schizophrenia, among close and distant relatives, do not have a single such case. There is simply no one to inherit the disease from.
The thing is that the genes responsible for the functioning of the brain tend to mutate in certain circumstances under the influence of the environment. This flexible mechanism allows our brains to evolve and, at the same time, makes early diagnosis of schizophrenia extremely difficult.