Neuregulin andSchizophrenia
Schizophrenia
• Debilitating mental illness affecting 1 % of the general population across the world.
• Onset in adolescent age.
Symptoms
• Positive symptoms– Hallucinations, delusions
• Negative symptoms– Avolition, Apathy
• Disorganization symptoms– Inappropriate social behavior
• Cognitive deficits– Perceptual deficits - Visual, Auditory.– Deficits in memory.– Emotional changes.
Schizophrenia is associated with many alterations in brain structure and function.
Many regional reduction in gray matter.
Thompson et al., , 2001
Achim et al., , 2005
Reduction in brain activation during cognitive tasks
Van der stelt et al., , 2005
Genetics of Schizophrenia
Kirov et al., , 2003
Neuregulin 1 – Linkage in 8p
Stefansson et al., 2002
Harrison et al., 2006
Functions of Neuregulin
Flames et al., 2004
Chih et al., 2004
Michailo et al., 2004
Conclusions
• Evidences so far, show NRG plays a vital role in neurodevelopmental processes.
• Association with Schizophrenia and late onset Alzhimer’s suggest a link between this gene and various diseases of nervous system.
• The role of NRG is still being studied. Further studies are required to identify its mechanisms of action.
Catpa demo….