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Five Major Mental Disorders Share Genetic Roots: Science Update • March 01, 2013

Five major mental disorders share some of the same genetic risk factors, the largest genome-wide study of its kind has found.
Differences in On/Off Switches Help Explain How the Human Brain Evolved: Science Update • February 19, 2013

A recent NIMH-funded study identified small regions of the genome that are uniquely regulated in human neurons, but not in primate neurons. The findings provide insight into human intellectual function and risk for human diseases, including autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
Different Genes, Same Risk Pathway in Schizophrenia: Science Update • January 02, 2013

Work by NIMH-supported scientists illustrates the variability of the genes and biology underlying illnesses like schizophrenia.
Gene Variants Implicated in Extreme Weight Gain Associated with Antipsychotics: Science Update • October 12, 2012

A small study suggests that people with certain genetic variants may be more susceptible to extreme weight gain if they take certain antipsychotic medications.
NIH Researchers Use Brain Imaging to Understand Genetic Link between Parkinson's and a Rare DiseaseExternal Link: Please review our disclaimer.: Science Update • July 30, 2012

A rare metabolic disorder is helping researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) uncover new clues about the biology underlying Parkinson’s disease.
Spontaneous Gene Glitches Linked to Autism Risk with Older Dads: Press Release • April 04, 2012

A trio of new studies have found that sequence changes in parts of genes that code for proteins play a significant role in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Friendly-to-a-Fault, Yet Tense: Personality Traits Traced in Brain: Press Release • March 19, 2012

NIH scientists have used three different types of brain imaging to pinpoint a circuit hub buried deep in the front center of the brain in people with Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by overly gregarious yet anxious behavior.
Gene Regulator in Brain’s Executive Hub Tracked Across Lifespan – NIH study: Press Release • February 02, 2012

For the first time, scientists have tracked the activity, across the lifespan, of an environmentally responsive regulatory mechanism that turns genes on and off in the brain’s executive hub. Among key findings of the study by National Institutes of Health scientists: genes implicated in schizophrenia and autism turn out to be members of a select club of genes in which regulatory activity peaks during an environmentally-sensitive critical period in development.
Turning on Dormant Gene May Hold Key for Correcting a Neurodevelopmental Defect: Science Update • January 05, 2012

Scientists working in cell culture and in mice have been able to correct the loss of gene activity underlying a rare but severe developmental disorder by turning on a gene that is normally silenced in brain cells.
Suspect Gene Variants Boost PTSD Risk after Mass Shooting: Science Update • December 01, 2011

College students exposed to a mass shooting were 20-30 percent more likely to later develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms if they harbored a risk version of a gene, NIMH-funded researchers have discovered.
Our Brains Are Made of the Same Stuff, Despite DNA Differences: Press Release • October 26, 2011

Despite vast differences in the genetic code across individuals and ethnicities, the human brain shows a “consistent molecular architecture.” The finding is from a pair of studies that have created databases revealing when and where genes turn on and off in multiple brain regions through development.
Autism Blurs Distinctions Between Brain Regions: Press Release • June 02, 2011

Autism blurs the molecular differences that normally distinguish different brain regions, a new study suggests. Among more than 500 genes that are normally expressed at significantly different levels in the front versus the lower middle part of the brain’s outer mantle, or cortex, only 8 showed such differences in brains of people with autism, say researchers funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.
Rare Gene Glitch May Hold Clues for Schizophrenia – NIH-funded Study: Press Release • February 23, 2011

Scientists are eyeing a rare genetic glitch for clues to improved treatments for some people with schizophrenia – even though they found the mutation in only one third of 1 percent of patients.
Transgenic Mouse Offers a Window on Gene/Environment Interplay: Prenatal Infection Alters Behavior in Genetically Vulnerable: Science Update • December 15, 2010

Experiments in transgenic mice have provided a novel glimpse of how a prenatal infection could interact with a specific gene variant to cause behavioral and neurologic changes in adults that mirror those seen in major psychiatric disease.
NIH launches Genotype-Tissue Expression Project: Press Release • October 08, 2010

The National Institutes of Health today announced awards to support an initiative to understand how genetic variation may control gene activity and its relationship to disease. Launched as a pilot phase, the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project will create a resource researchers can use to study inherited susceptibility to illness and will establish a tissue bank for future biological studies.
Imaging Reveals Abnormal Brain Growth in Toddlers with Fragile X: Science Update • June 08, 2010

Differences in brain growth patterns between preschool-aged boys with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, and their healthy peers suggest that the disorder may affect brain development both before and after birth, according to NIMH-funded researchers. In addition, their findings indicate ages 1–5 are an important window for better understanding the effects of FXS on brain development. The study was published May 18, 2010, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Impaired Brain Connections Traced to Schizophrenia Mutation: Press Release • March 31, 2010

The strongest known recurrent genetic cause of schizophrenia impairs communications between the brain’s decision-making and memory hubs, resulting in working memory deficits, according to a study in mice.
Gene’s Impact on Forgetting a Fear-Based Memory Same in Humans and Mice: Science Update • March 05, 2010

Both humans and mice carrying a variant of a gene that plays a role in memory were slow to learn to forget a fear-based memory. The parallels in gene effects observed in mice and humans in this work means that investigation using the mouse model can provide insights into effects in humans; results may inform treatment approaches to anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Genes and Circuitry, Not Just Clinical Observation, to Guide Classification for Research: Science Update • January 28, 2010

NIMH is launching a long-term project aimed at ultimately improving treatment and prevention by studying classification of mental illness, based on genetics and neuroscience in addition to clinical observation. The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project is not intended to replace psychiatry’s existing diagnostic system for practitioners and will proceed in an independent direction, said Bruce Cuthbert, Ph.D., Director of the NIMH Division of Adult Translational Research, who is directing the effort. By taking a fresh look – without preconceived categories – the project aims to improve the validity of classification for researchers.
Same Genes Suspected in Both Depression and Bipolar Illness: Science Update • January 28, 2010

Researchers, for the first time, have pinpointed a genetic hotspot that confers risk for both bipolar disorder and depression. People with either of these mood disorders were significantly more likely to have risk versions of genes at this site than healthy controls. One of the genes, which codes for part of a cell’s machinery that tells genes when to turn on and off, was also found to be over-expressed in the executive hub of bipolar patients’ brains, making it a prime suspect. The results add to mounting evidence that major mental disorders overlap at the molecular level.
Telephone-based Depression Treatment Program Effective While Cost Efficient: Science Update • October 16, 2009

Patients who receive structured, telephone-based support to manage their depression gain significant benefits with only moderate increases in health care costs compared to those who receive usual care, according to an NIMH-funded analysis published in the October 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Atlas Will Reveal When and Where Genes Turn On in the Brain: Science Update • October 06, 2009

When and where in the brain a gene turns on holds clues to its possible role in disease. For example, a recent study found that forms of a gene associated with schizophrenia are over-expressed in the fetal brain, adding to evidence implicating this critical developmental period.
Schizophrenia Linked to Over-expression of Gene in Fetal Brain: Science Update • August 28, 2009

A gene called DISC1, (for “disrupted in schizophrenia”) has been a leading contender among possible genetic causes since it was implicated in schizophrenia in a large Scottish clan two decades ago. The DISC1 gene codes for a protein important for brain development, as well as for mood and memory – functions that are disturbed in schizophrenia. However, until now there have been few clues as to how DISC1 might increase risk for the chronic mental disorder.
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Share Genetic Roots: Press Release • July 01, 2009

A trio of genome-wide studies – collectively the largest to date – has pinpointed a vast array of genetic variation that cumulatively may account for at least one third of the genetic risk for schizophrenia. One of the studies traced schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in part, to the same chromosomal neighborhoods.
Much Touted “Depression Risk Gene” May Not Add to Risk After All: Press Release • June 16, 2009

Stressful life events are strongly associated with a person’s risk for major depression, but a certain gene variation long thought to increase risk in conjunction with stressful life events actually may have no effect, according to researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study, published in the June 17, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, challenges a widely accepted approach to studying risk factors for depression.
Gene On/Off Instructions Inherited Via Shadowy Mechanism: Science Update • April 06, 2009
The first large-scale study of its kind in twins has turned up evidence that we inherit instructions for the turning on and off of genes via mechanisms beyond the traditional sequence differences in the genetic code. Moreover, the results suggest that early random errors in replicating these instructions may trump environmental influences in shaping us.
Anxious and Depressed Teens and Adults: Same Version of Mood Gene, Different Brain Reactions: Science Update • December 02, 2008
An NIMH study using brain imaging shows that some anxious and depressed adolescents react differently from adult patients when looking at frightening faces.
Genomic Dragnet Finds Clues to Likely Suspects in Alzheimer’s: Science Update • November 06, 2008
In the first study of its kind, researchers have pinpointed four genes likely associated with risk for the most common, late-onset form of Alzheimer’s disease, including a very strong candidate on chromosome 14.
Genes That Turn On Together Hold Secrets of Brain’s Molecular Instructions: Science Update • November 05, 2008
For the first time, scientists have mapped groups of genes that turn on together in the human brain, revealing a kind of Rosetta Stone of its molecular organization.
Viral Genetic Underpinnings of HIV-associated Dementia Explored: Science Update • October 09, 2008
A new study identifies differences between genetic variants of HIV that are associated with HIV-associated dementia (HAD).
Gene Associated with Social Behavior in Animals Has Similar Effects in Human Males: Science Update • September 02, 2008
A gene variant related to the hormone vasopressin appears to be associated with how human males bond with their partners or wives, according to an NIMH-funded study.
Mice Expressing Human Genes Bred to Help Unravel Mental Disorders: Science Update • June 26, 2008
New mouse strains engineered to express human genes related to mental disorders are being developed under a recently-launched grant program from NIMH’s Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science.
One Gene Overrides Another to Prevent Brain Changes that Foster Depression: Science Update • March 12, 2008
For what appears to be the first time in humans, scientists have detected an interaction between genes that may help prevent brain changes that increase vulnerability to depression.
Genetic Tags Reveal Secrets of Memories’ Staying Power in Mice: Press Release • February 21, 2008
A better understanding of how memory works is emerging from a newfound ability to link a learning experience in a mouse to consequent changes in the inner workings of its neurons. Researchers, supported in part by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), have developed a way to pinpoint the specific cellular components that sustain a specific memory in genetically-engineered mice.
Scans Reveal Faulty Brain Wiring Caused by Missing Genes: Science Update • February 20, 2008
An NIMH study using an emerging imaging technology has discovered faulty wiring in the brains of people with Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects some aspects of thinking.
IQ Boost From Breast Milk Linked to Gene-Environment Interaction: Science Update • December 17, 2007
A new study shows that the intellectual boost associated with breast milk is only attained if a child has inherited one of two versions of a specific gene.
Schizophrenia-Related Gene Linked to Imbalance in Dopamine Pathways: Science Update • December 17, 2007
Forms of a gene known to increase risk for schizophrenia may create an imbalance in brain pathways for dopamine, suggests a recent study by NIMH scientists.
Bipolar Disorder Phenome Database May Aid Search for Related Genes: Science Update • October 02, 2007
Early findings from the recently launched Bipolar Disorder Phenome Database were published in the August 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Suspect Schizophrenia Genes Act Together to Thwart Working Memory: Science Update • August 28, 2007
Two gene variants implicated in schizophrenia interact to degrade the brain's ability to process information, NIMH researchers have discovered.
Gene Triggers Obsessive Compulsive Disorder-Like Syndrome in Mice: Press Release • August 22, 2007
Using genetic engineering, researchers have created an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - like set of behaviors in mice and reversed them with antidepressants and genetic targeting of a key brain circuit. The study, by National Institutes of Health (NIH) -funded researchers, suggests new strategies for treating the disorder.
New Studies Search for Clues to Mental Illness in Gatekeepers of Gene Expression: Science Update • August 10, 2007
What goes awry in the brain to cause mental illness may ultimately be traced to glitches in genes - but not necessarily the parts of genes commonly suspected.
Gene Predicts Better Outcome as Cortex Normalizes in Teens with ADHD: Science Update • August 06, 2007
Brain areas that control attention were thinnest in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who carried a particular version of a gene in a study by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Genetic Roots of Bipolar Disorder Revealed by First Genome-Wide Study of Illness: Press Release • May 08, 2007
The likelihood of developing bipolar disorder depends in part on the combined, small effects of variations in many different genes in the brain, none of which is powerful enough to cause the disease by itself, a new study shows.
Cortex Area Thinner in Youth with Alzheimer’s-Related Gene: Press Release • April 24, 2007
A part of the brain first affected by Alzheimer’s disease is thinner in youth with a risk gene for the disorder, a brain imaging study by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has found.
Gene Knockout Unleashes Manic Mouse: Science Update • April 05, 2007
Mice engineered to lack a specific gene showed behaviors similar to human mania in a study funded in part by NIMH; they were hyperactive, slept less, appeared less depressed and anxious, and craved sugar, cocaine and pleasure stimulation.
Tiny, Spontaneous Gene Mutations May Boost Autism Risk: Press Release • March 15, 2007
Tiny gene mutations, each individually rare, pose more risk for autism than had been previously thought, suggests a study funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health, a component of the National Institutes of Health.
Largest-Ever Search for Autism Genes Reveals New Clues: Press Release • February 18, 2007
The largest search for autism genes to date, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has implicated components of the brain’s glutamate chemical messenger system and a previously overlooked site on chromosome 11.
Common Gene Version Optimizes Thinking — but With a Possible Downside: Press Release • February 09, 2007
Most people inherit a version of a gene that optimizes their brain’s thinking circuitry, yet also appears to increase risk for schizophrenia, a severe mental illness marked by impaired thinking, scientists at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have discovered.
New Tests May Help Researchers Detect Genetic Basis For Autism: Science Update • January 30, 2007
Researchers have developed a set of behavioral tests in mice that mimic the core features of autism and may prove useful in detecting a genetic basis for the deficits in social interactions and rigid thinking seen in the disorder.
Mouse Model May Reveal Anxiety Gene, Marker for Antidepressant Failure: Science Update • November 09, 2006
Studies of a new mouse model suggest that a specific gene variation plays a role in the development of anxiety disorders and in resistance to common medications for anxiety and depression.
Gene Linked to Autism in Families with More Than One Affected Child: Press Release • October 17, 2006
A version of a gene has been linked to autism in families that have more than one child with the disorder. Inheriting two copies of this version more than doubled a child’s risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder, scientists supported by NIMH and NICHD have discovered.
Gene Therapy May One Day Prevent AIDS–Related Brain–Cell Death: Science Update • October 11, 2006
Scientists have shown that gene therapy has potential for treating brain pathology triggered by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.
Aggression-Related Gene Weakens Brain’s Impulse Control Circuits: Press Release • March 20, 2006
A version of a gene previously linked to impulsive violence appears to weaken brain circuits that regulate impulses, emotional memory and thinking in humans, researchers at NIMH have found.
Gene Influences Antidepressant Response: Press Release • March 15, 2006
Whether depressed patients will respond to an antidepressant depends, in part, on which version of a gene they inherit, a study led by scientists at NIH has discovered. Having two copies of one version of a gene that codes for a component of the brain’s mood―regulating system increased the odds of a favorable response to an antidepressant by up to 18 percent, compared to having two copies of the other, more common version.
Schizophrenia Gene Variant Linked to Risk Traits: Press Release • August 11, 2004
Researchers at the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have identified a relationship between a small section of one gene, the brain chemical messenger glutamate, and a collection of traits known to be associated with schizophrenia.
Gene Enhances Prefrontal Function at a Price: Press Release • May 07, 2003
Studies of a gene that affects how efficiently the brain’s frontal lobes process information are revealing some untidy consequences of a tiny variation in its molecular structure and how it may increase susceptibility to schizophrenia.
Human Gene Affects Memory: Press Release • January 23, 2003
NIH scientists have shown that a common gene variant influences memory for events in humans by altering a growth factor in the brain's memory hub.
Gene May Bias Amygdala Response to Frightful Faces: Press Release • July 18, 2002
The amygdala, the brain structure known as the hub of fear, responds differently to pictures of scary faces, depending on which version of a gene one has inherited, report National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) scientists.