@ShiningScience
A groundbreaking study shows schizophrenia is linked to epigenetic alterations in a critical stress-regulating gene. Researchers from the University of Sydney and the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry discovered that in individuals with schizophrenia, protective chemical tags—specifically DNA methylation—are stripped away from a gene known as FKBP5. This gene normally acts as a biological brake to help neurons shut down stress hormones like cortisol. Without these chemical brakes, the FKBP5 gene is essentially left ‘stuck on,’ causing the brain’s stress-control systems to remain in a permanent state of overload.
As these chemical tags are lost, the resulting hyper-heightened stress response is particularly concentrated in the frontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory, decision-making, and emotional control. Scientists found that these changes become increasingly pronounced with age, meaning the stress response system switches on more easily and stays active longer as people grow older.
This cumulative exposure to unchecked stress over time can damage neural pathways, dramatically increasing vulnerability to severe psychiatric symptoms. By pinpointing this precise molecular switch, the research opens exciting new pathways for developing targeted therapies that could finally repair the brain’s broken stress-control machinery.
The work was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. source: Edmond, K. Z. (2026). Association Between Age-Dependent DNA Methylation Changes at FKBP5 Enhancer Sites and Increased Cortical Gene Expression in Schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry.
About michelleclarke2015
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
canisgallicus 