Research in Switzerland has established a link between thinning retinas and a genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia.
The regression analysis at the University of Zurich, published in Nature Mental Health, identified significant associations between the polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia, pathway-specific scores, and specific retinal layers.
Previous studies have focused on retinal findings in patients with schizophrenia.
The researchers in Switzerland went further to find out if the retinal differences could be identified early, before the symptoms of schizophrenia became apparent.
They used data from 34,939 Caucasian British and Irish individuals from the UKBiobank and discovered that the thinner retinas observed in patients had been seen in unaffected first-degree relatives, suggesting a link to genetic susceptibility to the mental illness.
The investigators determined polygenic risk scores, allowing them to investigate the genetic underpinnings of the differences in retinal thickness in the context of schizophrenia risk.
“Polygenic risk scores aggregate the impact of numerous genetic variants throughout the genome and account for a considerable portion of the variance in disease risk,” they said in their study.
“The identification of shared genetic influences between retinal structures and schizophrenia further supports the hypothesis that retinal atrophy observed in schizophrenia could reflect underlying genetic susceptibilities.
“This convergence from optical coherence tomography studies and genetic research may help in the exploration of the ways in which genetic predispositions contribute to the neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative anomalies in schizophrenia, including retinal alterations.”
More reading
Rewriting eye disease: Are we ready for gene therapies?
Novartis targets GA gene therapy in Gyroscope Therapeutics deal
Sydney surgeon details first Luxturna gene therapy allowing patient to see stars
