A DEFENCE against manic depression may be written in our genes, scientists
say.
Edward Ginns and his colleagues at the National Institute of Mental ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
near Washington DC looked at the genes of people from families with a genetic
predisposition to manic depression. Those who did not develop the disease,
despite their high risk, had similarities in one region on chromosome 4. This
may contain a gene that protects against the disorder (Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, vol 95, p 15 531).
This is the first evidence of a beneficial gene linked to a behavioural
disorder. “We were really excited,” says Ginns. Understanding how the gene
offers protection could lead to new drugs for depression that mimic its effect,
he says.
