Shared molecular traits linking autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder identified

A number of shared and distinct patterns of gene expression have been identified in the brains of people with autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The University of California – Los Angeles study have found that these mental conditions share several physical characteristics at the molecular level, specifically in terms of patterns of gene expression in the brain.

These traits were identified after RNA patterns were analysed in 700 tissue samples, revealing significant overlap in the molecular pathology of distinct disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, while major depression showed molecular changes not seen in other disorders.

Efforts will now be made to understand the mechanisms by which these traits emerge, which could make it possible to change health outcomes for patients with these conditions in future.

Daniel Geschwind, professor of neurology, psychiatry and human genetics at UCLA, said: "These findings provide a molecular, pathological signature of these disorders, which is a large step forward. The major challenge now is to understand how these changes arose."

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