Genetics of psychiatry Flashcards
Risk of developing schizophrenia for the general population
1%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected sibling
9%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected child
6%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected parent
13%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected DZ twin
17%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected MZ twin
48%
Most frequently developed personality disorder among patients with a relative with schizophrenia
Schizotypal disorder
Type of schizophrenia with highest MZ twin concordance
Hebephrenic
Most likely candidate genes and chromosomes for schizophrenia
COMT gene - chromosome 22
Dysbindin gene - 6p22.3
Neuregulin 1 gene - 8p21-22
DISC1 - chromosome 1
Action of COMT protein coded for by COMT gene which may be relevant to its role in schizophrenia
Degrades catecholamines including dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline
Inherited disorder which has a significant risk of psychosis and where the COMT gene is deleted
DiGeorge syndrome
Risk of schizophrenia among patients with DiGeorge syndrome
20-25%
Action of neuregulin seen in patients with schizophrenia which may affect presentation
Suppresses NMDA receptors leading to lowered glutamate levels
Age of onset of schizophrenia among patients with a stronger family background
Younger on average
Risk of bipolar disorder among the general population
0.5-1.5%
Risk of bipolar disorder with an affected first degree relative
5-10%
Risk of bipolar disorder with an affected MZ twin
40-70%
Genes and loci suspected in bipolar disorder
BDNF gene 11p13
DAO G72/G30 13q33
COMT 22q11
Risk of unipolar depression with an affected first degree relative
5-30%
Suggested link between BDNF gene and depression
Decreased neurogenesis in the hippocampus seen in depression, which is dependent on BDNF
Genes and chromosomes affected by mutations that are implicated in familial Alzheimer’s disease before the age of 60
Amyloid precursor protein - chromosome 21
Presenilin 1 - chromosome 14
Presenilin 2 - chromosome 1
Gene and locus with the largest impact on Alzheimer’s dementia risk
APOE - chromosome 19q
Three co-dominant alleles of APOE
2
3
4
Protective APOE allele for Alzheimer’s dementia
2
APOE allele which increases risk for Alzheimer’s dementia
4
Risk of developing Alzheimer’s dementia with an affected first degree relative
15-20%
Personality disorder with the highest heritability
Antisocial PD
Outcome of adoption studies regarding alcohol dependence
No protection in adopted children being raised away from alcohol dependent biological parents
Genes with the strongest contribution to risk of alcohol dependency
Alcohol dehydrogenase 1B and 1C - chromosome 4
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 - chromosome 12
First step in ethanol metabolism
Oxidation to aldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase
Toxic intermediary in the breakdown of ethanol
Aldehyde
Second step in alcohol metabolism
Metabolism of aldehyde to acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase
Variations in proteins leading to unpleasant effects when drinking alcohol
Active forms of alcohol dehydrogenase
Inactive forms of aldehyde dehydrogenase
Gene associated with Parkinson’s disease which codes for alpha-synuclein
SNCA
Increased risk of Alzheimer’s in people who are heterozygous for APOE4 compared to the general population
3-4 x higher
Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people who are homozygous for APOE4 compared to the general population
10-30 x higher
Number of years each APOE4 allele lowers the average age of developing Alzheimer’s disease
10 years
Gene which accounts for the majority of early onset familial Alzheimer’s cases
Presenilin 1 on chromosome 14
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected grandparent
5%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with two affected parents
46%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected half sibling
6%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected first cousin
2%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected nephew/niece
2%
Risk of developing schizophrenia with an affected aunt/uncle
4%
Candidate genes for schizophrenia
DTNBP1 (dysbindin) COMT NRG1 (neuregulin) G72 RGS4 DAO1 DISC1 DRD2
Heritability estimate for schizophrenia
80%
Heritability estimate for bipolar disorder
> 80%
Heritability estimate for major depression
40%
Heritability estimate for alcohol dependence
60%
Virtually inactive form of aldehyde dehydrogenase which is a common polymorphism among some Asian groups and which leads to build up of toxic acetaldehyde when drinking alcohol
ALDH2*2
Proportion of people of Taiwanese, Han Chinese, and Japanese background who have ALDH2*2
50%
Polymorphism which causes the ‘Asian flushing reaction’ when drinking alcohol
ALDH2*2
Form of alcohol dehydrogenase which causes a slow first stage metabolism of alcohol leading to less build up of toxic acetaldehyde
ADH1B*1
Proportion of Caucasians who are homozygous for ADH1B*1
95%
Forms of alcohol dehydrogenase which code for a fast first stage of alcohol metabolism leading to increased build up of toxic acetaldehyde
ADH1C*1
ADH1B*2
Proportion of Caucasians who are heterozygous for ADH1B1/ADH1B2
5%
Genes associated with familial frontotemporal dementia
C9orf72 - chromosome 9
PGRN - chromosome 17
MAPT - chromosome 17
Most common gene associated with familial frontotemporal dementia
C9orf72 - chromosome 9
Condition associated with a mutation in the shank3 gene
Autism
Risk of unipolar depression in someone with no affected relatives
5-10%
Relative increased risk of unipolar depression in someone with a first degree relative with bipolar disorder
2-3 x higher