02Jun
The expression of certain genes in the brain before birth could influence the risk of developing various mental illnesses during childhood. Researchers found genetic patterns linked with adult psychiatric illnesses also correspond with psychiatric symptoms in children.
Their strongest predictor was a “neurodevelopmental gene set,” which combines genetic risk elements for numerous developmental disorders, such as ADHD, autism, and depression. It seems that these genes, largely expressed in the cerebellum, begin impacting the brain before birth, suggesting the need for earlier interventions.
The genetic risk for ADHD and depression were associated with a range of symptoms in children, not just those related to attention or mood. Additional analyses of information from brain banks revealed that the genes in this set are expressed most strongly in the brain’s cerebellum and their expression in the cerebellum peaks before birth. Children with psychiatric symptoms tended to have a slightly smaller cerebellum, perhaps a reflection of these genes’ effects on cerebellar development during prenatal life.
Also other factors during pregnancy—whether in the realm of healthy lifestyle (such as quality sleep, exercise, and diet), optimal prenatal care, or psychosocial support—that can confer resiliency in developing brains and protect against risk of psychiatric disorders in young people.
What about the risk of inheritance to your children, some patients ask in our clinic? Our answer is: The average chance that someone will develop a mental disorder like Bipolar or schizophrenia during their lifetime is estimated at 0.8%, but in children of a parent with this diagnose this increases to almost 13% . Genes are important but do not determine everything. It increasingly appears that there is an interaction between genes and environmental factors. If you need any advice or help in these topics, feel free to make an appointment.
Written by Dr. Anne Bakhit on LinkedIn
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