Parents' Psychiatric Diseases may Up Suicide Attempt Risk in Their Children
Parents suffering from psychiatric diseases including mental and mood disorders may increase the risk of their children attempting suicide.
Parents suffering from psychiatric diseases including mental and mood disorders may increase the risk of their children attempting suicide.
‘Variations in the function of synaptic proteins may underlie the high degree of variability in symptoms that present in patients diagnosed with ASD and other neurological and psychiatric disorders.’
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In this issue of the JCI, Nils Brose and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine have identified a mutation in a synaptic protein called UNC13 in a patient diagnosed with ASD, hyperactivity, and dyskinesia. Further investigation revealed that the UNC13 mutation disturbs the fine-tuning of neuronal communication at the level of the synapse. In mice, the UNC13 mutation led to enhanced synaptic strength that was attributed to increased frequency of chemical signals issued between neurons. Although the identified mutation itself is rare, this finding provides additional support for the concept that variations in the function of synaptic proteins may underlie the high degree of variability in symptoms that present in patients diagnosed with ASD and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Further, the work provides a positive therapeutic outlook for disorders linked to synaptic defects, since UNC13 and other synaptic proteins may be potential targets for pharmacological intervention.
Source-Eurekalert
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