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interesting read; but it appears to have been dated as a 2001 composition
Theories suggest Schizophrenia is caused by an endogenous retrovirus in our DNA.
Retroviruses and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia
If they can link schizophrenia to a retrovirus then we'd be one giant step closer to a cure, right?
The topic interests me and I did read the article but it was challenging. Tell me if I'm following this correctly. A retrovirus is something that mirrors DNA but with a twist and then new cells generate from the RNA instead of the DNA? The article said HIV was RNA?
Am I understanding it correctly?
If they can link schizophrenia to a retrovirus then we'd be one giant step closer to a cure, right?
A retrovirus begins as viral RNA. It basically can't do anything in that form other than enter a host cell. Once it does, it uses the machinery of the host cell (including the cell's own ability to replicate DNA for cell division) to make copies of itself. Once enough copies are made, the cell bursts and dies.
It's theorized that there are retroviruses which are the cause of long-term chronic illnesses because once those particular strains hijack the cell's machinery, they become permanently part of the host's DNA, which messes up your body for life. In fact, many of our evolutionarily-acquired diseases may be due to viruses in our ancestral past, since the same messed up DNA gets passed down when you reproduce.
I read an article about chronic fatigue syndrome a couple of months ago and they're finding viral evidence for it. That doesn't correlate to my own understanding and treatment of it, but it's still interesting.
If schizophrenia can be caused by retroviruses, then I want to know the reseachers' explanation for why schizophrenia largely develops in adolescence and not other age groups.
As for a cure... that might be difficult. They'd have to find out the origin of infection and create a childhood vaccine for it, but retroviruses are notoriously difficult to make vaccines for. Still, knowing the root would be helpful.
If schizophrenia can be caused by retroviruses, then I want to know the reseachers' explanation for why schizophrenia largely develops in adolescence and not other age groups.
No-one in our family has had this before but I always read it was hereditary. Scares me to death if I think about it too much. If it is hereditary, her father's side had some mental issues but how do you know?
I worry about my son who is 20. What if it is in our families' gene pool from 100 years ago? I'm really in no hurry to have him leave home and take on "stressors" that could kick it off.
It has a hereditary component.
But I think what one inherits is the propensity for it; it also seems to need some external trigger.
20 is late for it to manifest. Typically, there will be signs in adolescence.
I wouldn't worry about your son.
Thanks, Ten. It's hard not to worry.........you know.
Yes but if you have the propensity for it all you need is one trigger to set things in motion. I read that there would typically be signs in adolescence but my niece didn't have any signs as a kid/teen. She was normal. The only funny thing she did that may have been odd is that she liked to smell things when she was little......everything. Strawberry Shortcake was still in style and she had them all so smelling was a big deal to that age group.....I guess that's not really odd.
What are signs in adolescence?
She's never been one of the "lucky" ones that you read about who are able to live their life with medication. She was an outgoing, chatty, beautiful, skinny 19 year old when everything just stopped for her. It's been about 15 years now.
The medication to stop the symptoms also cause significant weight gain, lethargy, etc. She does still get paranoid but not "crazy". She sleeps a lot, avoids family functions a lot
It's near impossible to have a conversation with her. Yeah, No, I don't know.......
It's tragic. She had everything going for her and she has no life anymore. It affected all of us but my niece, my sister and her husband more than anyone, of course.
No-one in our family has had this before but I always read it was hereditary. Scares me to death if I think about it too much. If it is hereditary, her father's side had some mental issues but how do you know?
I worry about my son who is 20. What if it is in our families' gene pool from 100 years ago? I'm really in no hurry to have him leave home and take on "stressors" that could kick it off.
If schizophrenia was caused by a retrovirus then couldn't it be spread from person to person? It seems schizophrenia may have a genetic component to it (as it tends to run in families).
This is an endogenous retrovirus. Simply, everyone already has it. It is embedded in our DNA. 40% of human DNA is considered "junk DNA" that serves no function. Retroviruses are part of the "junk DNA" category. Certain studies suggest schizophrenia is a result of the retrovirus "waking up" and becoming active.
This is an endogenous retrovirus. Simply, everyone already has it. It is embedded in our DNA. 40% of human DNA is considered "junk DNA" that serves no function. Retroviruses are part of the "junk DNA" category. Certain studies suggest schizophrenia is a result of the retrovirus "waking up" and becoming active.
A retrovirus begins as viral RNA. It basically can't do anything in that form other than enter a host cell. Once it does, it uses the machinery of the host cell (including the cell's own ability to replicate DNA for cell division) to make copies of itself. Once enough copies are made, the cell bursts and dies.
It's theorized that there are retroviruses which are the cause of long-term chronic illnesses because once those particular strains hijack the cell's machinery, they become permanently part of the host's DNA, which messes up your body for life. In fact, many of our evolutionarily-acquired diseases may be due to viruses in our ancestral past, since the same messed up DNA gets passed down when you reproduce.
I read an article about chronic fatigue syndrome a couple of months ago and they're finding viral evidence for it. That doesn't correlate to my own understanding and treatment of it, but it's still interesting.
If schizophrenia can be caused by retroviruses, then I want to know the reseachers' explanation for why schizophrenia largely develops in adolescence and not other age groups.
As for a cure... that might be difficult. They'd have to find out the origin of infection and create a childhood vaccine for it, but retroviruses are notoriously difficult to make vaccines for. Still, knowing the root would be helpful.
If schizophrenia was caused by retroviruses, then medication would not work. My wife has schizophrenia (Just like John Nash did, if you ever saw the movie "A Beautiful Mind"), and she has been taking a medication called Zyprexa for many years to correct what her psychiatrist called an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. The medicine works. She has not had any major problems since she began taking the medication, which means that her illness was caused by exactly what the doctors said caused it - A chemical imbalance, and not due to any biological pathogen.
If schizophrenia was caused by retroviruses, then medication would not work. My wife has schizophrenia (Just like John Nash did, if you ever saw the movie "A Beautiful Mind"), and she has been taking a medication called Zyprexa for many years to correct what her psychiatrist called an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. The medicine works. She has not had any major problems since she began taking the medication, which means that her illness was caused by exactly what the doctors said caused it - A chemical imbalance, and not due to any biological pathogen.
Yes, quite familiar with this......
I read an article about chronic fatigue syndrome a couple of months ago and they're finding viral evidence for it. That doesn't correlate to my own understanding and treatment of it, but it's still interesting.
Immune system fully matures about lates teens, perhaps stops growing/replacing so readily and the RV has a more stable target.If schizophrenia can be caused by retroviruses, then I want to know the reseachers' explanation for why schizophrenia largely develops in adolescence and not other age groups.
The cure would have to be some biogenetic agent.. the treatment, as above, in the meantime could be an cocktail of suppressant drugs.As for a cure... that might be difficult. They'd have to find out the origin of infection and create a childhood vaccine for it, but retroviruses are notoriously difficult to make vaccines for. Still, knowing the root would be helpful.
If it stems from viral DNA that is imbedded in us then there should be a unique protein product within individuals that have schizophrenia. It would be more believable if they sampled brain tissue and tested it for an abnormal protein or if they checked the proteins active between normal individuals and individuals with schizophrenia. I am just somewhat skeptical about saying schizophrenia is due to viral DNA.
If schizophrenia was caused by retroviruses, then medication would not work. My wife has schizophrenia (Just like John Nash did, if you ever saw the movie "A Beautiful Mind"), and she has been taking a medication called Zyprexa for many years to correct what her psychiatrist called an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. The medicine works. She has not had any major problems since she began taking the medication, which means that her illness was caused by exactly what the doctors said caused it - A chemical imbalance, and not due to any biological pathogen.
Theories suggest Schizophrenia is caused by an endogenous retrovirus in our DNA.
Retroviruses and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia
Theories suggest Schizophrenia is caused by an endogenous retrovirus in our DNA.
Retroviruses and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia
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