tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670822583067358845.post5332976780217267203..comments2023-08-01T18:30:46.123-04:00Comments on It's Not <em>Mental</em>: Specific Genes Inherited from Both Parents May Lead to Type of "Schizophrenia"Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17959439801606339439noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670822583067358845.post-89085271932940832422008-02-18T16:05:00.000-05:002008-02-18T16:05:00.000-05:00One of beauties of using a nutritional approach to...One of beauties of using a nutritional approach to both therapeutic and preventative scenarios is how innocuous it may be. It is very rare indeed that supplementing with nutrients that the normal body uses and needs will cause harm. I, personally, would encourage supplementation, with omega 3, CoQ10 and similar nutrients if there is the slightest question. I offer as an example of the case of cod liver oil. Before the present day when Vitamin D is added to milk, autism and ADHD was almost unknown, possibly because mothers ran after their children to gve them cod liver oil which was a good source of Vitamin D to prevent rickets. The fact is that it is also a fairly good source of Omega 3s which disappeared from the diets of children when Vitamin D fortification became ubiquitous.<BR/><BR/>I would encourage Philip to begin supplementation early and even if not needed for a specific morbidity, it can't hurt and may contribute to general good health of his children. Supplemenation should be age appropriate. It is possible that a preventative dose may be too small to be an effective therapeutic dose but it can be adjusted later should a pathology appear.Herbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01547233819520063276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670822583067358845.post-81302061413332071142008-01-16T11:19:00.000-05:002008-01-16T11:19:00.000-05:00It can take years for genetic tests to become comm...It can take years for genetic tests to become commercially available after discovery even when it is for a single gene. This one is even more complex because it is for a set of genes. <BR/><BR/>You want to know "preventative" measures to take. <BR/><BR/>It is not known exactly what these specific genes do and how they interact. The press release says the scientists do not know which, if any, environmental factors may interact to prevent or to trigger these sets of genes. <BR/><BR/>They say that these genes are "higly penetrant" which means that this is a highly genetic way to get this set of symptoms which can qualify for the diagnosis of "schizophrenia". They are looking for other genes that might get turned on or off that may help to modulate the symptoms.<BR/><BR/>Four of the 9 involved DNA regions related to largely glutaminergic function of the neurons at the place they communicate with each other, called synapses. But other areas were different. <BR/><BR/>If in the future there is a commercially available genetic test for these genes, the hope is that they will also have a better understanding of exactly what a person can do or take to lessen the effects of those genes, if not outright treat the underlying biology. It may be complex since so many genes are involved each contributing different factors to that complex biology.<BR/><BR/>In the meantime, we can only do what we are already doing to aid the general health of our children and unborn babies. The research does not say if additional therapeutic measures to help preserve (and grow) brain function, such as omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), and protect against oxidative stress in the affected child, lower homocysteine levels during pregancy, etc, will have any effect on THIS particular highly inherited genetic problem, but aiming for such health cannot hurt. <BR/><BR/>I could list a hundred things that get listed as contributing factors for diagnoses of other known forms of "schizophrenia" from highly biological to emotional (usually combined with a pre-existing vulnerability in the biolgy). These range from prenatal viral infections to childhood exposure to dry cleaning chemicals! <BR/><BR/>But I can talk about some things to be aware of in general about children who carry some versions of genetic risk for some types of "schizophrenia", which may have no connection to this type. I don't know. After all, the finding of the genes have just taken place. <BR/><BR/>In general with other known versions, there may be associated risk of food sensitivities, diabetes, sensory issues, sleep issues, endocrine problems, learning differences and autoimmune problems. All these things need to be watched out for and treated appropriately. <BR/><BR/>In some cases of childhood-onset "schizophrenias" the child may have lower IQ, delayed speech, abnormal gait, impaired facial emotion recognition. There are so many different types. I do not personally know any of these cases - I've only read about them in the literature. Can those cases be prevented? Some babies are born the way they are in spite of everything a person does to try to have a good pregnancy. <BR/><BR/><BR/>If you are worried about your future children, I would suggest you do what I am sure you would do anyway. Your wife should get all her vaccinations before getting pregnant, be healthy, and eat a healthy diet, take appropriate vitamins, see her ob-gyn regularly, and avoid toxic chemicals. <BR/><BR/>Oh, and as for you... of course... you need to treat your wife like a princess :-) <BR/><BR/><BR/>After birth, in general, kids (and adults) with autoimmune problems, genetic problems, endocrine disorders, learning differences, etc, along with the ones with a type of "schizophrenia" seem to be more vulnerable to stress from their pain, sensory overload, sleep issues, physical injury, emotional overload, etc. <BR/><BR/>So, as with any child, care needs to be taken to help the child deal with their own biology, such as any sensory processing issues, to lessen the impact (stress) of those issues. <BR/><BR/>Protecting the child's body and brain with good nutrition that is appropriate to that child's biology is important. An example is a young child with migraines who may be reacting to allergens, foods, or may need supplements (such as CoQ-10). <BR/><BR/>Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) helps reduce inflammatory response which seems to be associated with some types of "schizophrenia", and also helps protect and regrow brain cells. <BR/><BR/>Sleep issues are also extremely important to address as that alone can hugely stress a person's body and brain. <BR/><BR/>However, these are all generalities. The authors said nothing about how to prevent or redice problems if the child actually is homozygous for this particular set of recessive genes. They cannot know if they interact with viral infections or some environmental toxin, or even with other proteins, mitochondria... or... whatever in the body. <BR/><BR/>The hope they expressed is that some day they will know exactly what to do when the person does have double copies of these genes.<BR/><BR/>The hope that I see in this research is that if one parent does not have this form of schizophrenia in their family, even if the other parent has this form, the offspring are unlikely to have the double copies, so will not be ill. (Note that the press release did not describe the form - mostly positive symptoms? Mostly negative symptoms? Catatonia? Disorganized? Paranoid? etc).<BR/><BR/>It will be interesting to see what comes out of this research down the road. For now, it has no practical value for loving parents today, except to give a potential explanation for how some types of "schizophrenia" can be inherited, how it can affect none of the children of parents with it, yet show up in the grandchildren if both parents are carriers.Jeaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15196678364556928854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670822583067358845.post-83694305769450980742008-01-15T12:21:00.000-05:002008-01-15T12:21:00.000-05:00So, does this mean that I will be able to go to a ...So, does this mean that I will be able to go to a doctor, along with my spouse, to get tested for these genetic markers? Assuming that is possible, what preventative measures would we be able to take to reduce the problems that our child may have?Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17959439801606339439noreply@blogger.com