Epigenetics in Mental Health

Mental illnesses are thought to result from the combined influence of genes and environment. While studies have identified critical risk periods for the development of mental illnesses, the biological bases for these diseases have remained elusive until recently. The field of epigenetics seeks to identify the biological markers that reflect the interaction of a person’s genes and the environments they experience and therefore holds the promise of yielding fruitful discoveries. Epigenetic changes can result in the dysregulation of key biological processes such as normal stress response and underlie a number of mental and general health problems. Importantly, unlike most environmental factors, quantification of epigenetic biomarkers found in the blood can be integrated with other scientific disciplines such as brain imaging to better understand the biology of mental illness. Epigenetic biomarkers may even be capable of predicting risk to future mental illness.

In this talk, Dr. Kaminsky highlights two examples of epigenetic biomarkers associated with two major public health problems, postpartum depression and suicide, and discuss how the implementation of epigenetic biomarker screening alongside predictive analytics may help improve mental illness prevention strategies.

Presenter:
Dr. Zachary Kaminsky
DIFD Mach-Gaensslen Chair in Suicide Prevention Research at The Royal

[xtzyshuadog]

Genes, genetics and our mental health, psychopathology. *Fantastic explanation*

[mha]

Fantastic. This explains the physiology and mechanisms of a lot of what we knew for decades from deep clinical work in therapeutic regression and environmental causes of trauma esp pre natal .birth and first two years traumas
Thanks for helping make this more formal and of known mechanism of how traumas cause mental illness

[Janellejanelka]

The only solution is to create such conditions for paretnts, including single mothers, that the stress level will be in norm. Including quality education on the topic from early age at schools. The main problem is poor ethics and wrong behavioural role models. The science is here to explain and prove why it is important to eliminate trauma in general but the suffering won't disappear by biological treatment only. It must come from both empirical knowledge as well as spiritual belief, motivation and understanding why it is necessary to change our values and especially approach to each other and to children.

[izzycav]

This video is so useful and interesting, thank you!

[nickjamesb]

With what we know, and how long we have known about it, how the hell is no one talking about prevention? Where is the rallying war cry to protect our children?

[nickjamesb]

Its pretty offensive to be suffering from these things, knowing what we know, and watching the world carry on in indifference and denial of this problem.