New research from King’s College London has discovered that ancient viral DNA sequences, known as Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs), are expressed in the brain and contribute to psychiatric disorder susceptibility. The study revealed that specific HERVs are associated with increased risks of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. The research analyzed extensive genetic data and autopsy brain samples to uncover these associations.
The findings suggest that understanding the role of these viral sequences in brain function could revolutionize mental health research and lead to new treatment and diagnostic methods. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Recent research has found that DNA remnants of ancient viruses in our genome are linked to increased susceptibility to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.
This highlights a significant, previously underestimated impact of these viral sequences on brain health. New research led by King’s College London has discovered that thousands of DNA sequences originating from ancient viral infections are expressed in the brain, with some contributing to susceptibility for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Published in Nature Communications , the study was part-funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).
About eight percent of our genome is comprised of sequences c.
