Genetic Mutations Cause Schizophrenia

Gene mutations, which control functioning of a key enzyme in the brain, can increase odds for this severe psychic illness to develop.

Findings of a study by Japanese and American scientists showed that genes called PPP3CC and EGR3 have a large effect on the appearance of schizophrenia.

They control the performance of the enzyme calcineurine and disorders in this complicated mechanism result in the appearance of symptoms of schizophrenia like difficulties in conducting, memory and speech.

Researches conducted so far have resulted in the discovery that in 80 percent of schizophrenia cases, genes have a key role.

The study`s results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences magazine, and it is stated that over 51 million people in the world suffer from this severe illness.

Scientists hope these findings will help in the development of new treatments of this terrible illness, Yahoo News reports.