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It is well established that stress can alter the activation pattern of our genes. Stress also triggers epigenetic mechanisms which modulate how DNA, the carrier of genetic information, is read. The genetic information on the DNA is in the next step ‘translated’ into RNA, which is the blueprint of proteins. In a groundbreaking study, scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry (MPI) have shown for the first time that stress can also cause similar “epigenetic” changes on the RNA level. The research results were recently published in the internationally renowned journal Neuron.
It was recently rediscovered that RNA can be modified by chemical tags in a similar way to the epigenetic modifications seen on DNA. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is made up of four molecular building blocks: adenosine, cytidine, guanosine and uridine, which can be modified by the attachment of chemical tag. These tags or RNA modifications provide a sophisticated extra layer of gene regulation.
A modification of mRNA, which occurs post-transcriptionally is methylation of adenosine and the most abundant is N6-methyladenosine (m6A). Although m6A was first described in 1974, recent technological advances were necessary before more detailed analyses of the epitranscriptome could be carried out.
[...] Alon Chen, Director at the Institute and head of the project explains: “Increasing evidence suggests that the fine-tuning seen with mRNA methylation may underlie the etiology of psychiatric disorders. We think that elucidating the role of mRNA methylation in regulating brain function will help us to better understand psychiatric disorders.”
(Score: 3, Interesting) by EventH0rizon on Tuesday August 14 2018, @11:41PM (1 child)
And this is the message I am (so far) failing to deliver to my 22 year old son who is experiencing mania, psychosis, paranoia and dis-associative thinking.
Diagnosed as schizotypal at a young age, he had a nine month course of very low dose anti-psychotic drugs at 18 and they proved very effective at the time.
His symptoms now are much more worrying but despite being hospitalized for a week, he is determined that he has no problem and needs no medication. His downhill trajectory is pretty familiar to those who deal with mental health and it's awful to witness, particularly when medication can be so affective.
I would give anything to be able to get his head around your very experience fishybell.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 15 2018, @03:41AM
> I would give anything to be able to get his head around your very experience fishybell.
Seconded. My sister tried stopping her meds a few times in her 20s, when she was feeling pretty normal, but each time descended into a dark place. The last time she was nearly catatonic for a month, didn't talk or bathe, swiped food from an institutional kitchen at night like a foraging animal. That last time seems to have scared her to the extent that she has stayed on for about 25 years now, held down a part time job and led a normal (if somewhat less than "fully functional") life.
She takes something pretty scary, has weekly blood tests to make sure that she hasn't suddenly developed a deadly reaction to the drug. A few times her doc has lowered her dose slightly, which makes her pretty nervous. At least once the reduction was too much and symptoms returned. No one seems to know if she can ever get off completely, but everyone agrees that less is better (as long as she has enough).