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News about bipolar disorder clinical treatment, research and discoveries from
UCSD
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Dr. Kelsoe delivers keynote
address on the "Genetics of Mood Disorder" to the California Depression
Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) in San Diego. He describes the role of genes
in bipolar disorder and how the discovery of genes will change and improve
current diagnosis and treatment. See his presentation
here.
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Dr. Tom Barrett of UCSD reports
the discovery of one of the first genes for bipolar disorder. This gene called
G protein receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) regulates the sensitivity of neurons in the
brain to dopamine and other neurotransmitters. It functions as a regulator or
brake that keeps systems in balance. Dr. Barrett found a mutation in the gene
that may make this brake dysfunctional and contribute to the susceptibility to
bipolar disorder. This is one of two genes for bipolar disorder on chromosome
22. (more information)
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Linkage of bipolar disorder to
two distinct regions on chromosome 22 was reported in a study of 20 large
families with bipolar disorder. These results suggest the presence of two
distinct genes on this chromosome and is a major advance in the discovery of
disease genes.
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UCSD
Department of Psychiatry