A group of international scientists from 18 institutions in the United States in Europe and the United States found that epigenetic changes in the placenta may affect the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. The study was published scientifically magazine Nature Communication (Natcoms).
The team examined the DNA methylation process in the placenta – a chemical modification that regulates the activity of genes without changing the sequences. DNA methylation may be associated with factors such as diet, stress and the effects of pollutants.
The results have shown that schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and a major depressive disorder are most closely related to changes in the methylation of placenta DNA. The connection was less prominent for other states such as ADHD and autism, but also joined.
The discovery that genetic risk may be associated with the methylation of the placenta DNA provides new opportunities for early detection and prevention of psychiatric disorders.
The study also emphasizes the importance of understanding how and when genetic factors affect the development of pathologies. Some genes can move in the early stages of development, which makes them imprudent to influence them in adulthood.
Previously, scientists LearnedWhat threatens too fatty foods during pregnancy.
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Source: Gazeta
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