People with rheumatoid arthritis less likely to develop schizophrenia (and vice versa) – genetic explanation

Genetics may account for the finding that people with rheumatoid arthritis are less likely to develop schizophrenia than people without rheumatoid arthritis, highlights a new study in the journal npj Schizophrenia.

“Several previous research studies have hinted at a potential inverse relationship in the prevalence and risk for the two disorders, so we wondered if individual genetic variants may exist that could have opposing effects on the risk of schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr Vishwajit Nimgaonkar, who is involved in the research.

The team found that eight particular genes explain why susceptibility to one of the disorders places people at lower risk of the other. And it seems that a dysfunctional immune system could play a role in the development of schizophrenia.

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