Nearly one in seven people worldwide lived with a mental health condition in 2021, with anxiety and depression being the most common, according to the World Health Organization, as reported by ScienceDaily. While mental illnesses are generally linked to a mix of genetic and environmental factors, new research suggests that a single gene may independently cause psychiatric disorders.
A team led by Professor Johannes Lemke, Director of the Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Leipzig Medical Center, identified specific variants of the GRIN2A gene that can directly trigger mental illness. The study examined 121 individuals with GRIN2A mutations and found links not only to schizophrenia but also to a wider range of psychiatric conditions.
These disorders often emerged in childhood or adolescence, earlier than typically expected. Some individuals exhibited psychiatric symptoms alone, despite GRIN2A’s usual association with epilepsy or intellectual disability.
Further analysis revealed that certain GRIN2A variants reduce NMDA receptor function, which disrupts communication between brain cells.
In collaboration with Dr. Steffen Syrbe of Heidelberg University Hospital, the researchers tested L-serine, a supplement that enhances NMDA receptor activity, and observed symptom improvements in early cases. The study builds on a long-term international effort and an ongoing GRIN2A patient registry established by Professor Lemke.
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