1000х90.jpg (78 KB)

Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   28 March 2024

American scientists discovered that blood test could predict risk of suicide

American scientists discovered that blood test could predict risk of suicide

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS.  A simple blood test could determine a person’s risk of suicide and provide a future tool of prevention to stem suicide rates. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland, say they have discovered a genetic indicator of a person’s vulnerability to the effects of stress and anxiety and, therefore, the risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts, reports “Armenpress”, in reference to The Washington Post.

The researchers looked at how a group of chemicals known as methyls affect the gene SKA2, which modifies how the brain reacts to stress hormones. If the gene’s function is impaired by a chemical change, someone who is stressed won’t be able to shut down the effect of the stress hormone, which would be like having a faulty brake pad in a car for the fear center of the brain, worsening the impact of even everyday stresses.

Researchers studied about 150 postmortem brain samples of healthy people and those with mental illness, including some who had committed suicide. They found that those who died by suicide had significantly higher levels of the chemical that altered the SKA2 gene.  As a result of the gene’s modification, it was not able to “switch off” the effect of the stress hormone.

The researchers then tested sets of blood samples from more than 325 participants in the Johns Hopkins Center for Prevention Research study to see whether they could determine those who were at greater risk of suicide by the same biomarker.

They were able to guess with 80 to 90 percent accuracy whether a person had thoughts of suicide or made an attempt by looking at the single gene, while accounting for age, gender and levels of stress or anxiety.








youtube

AIM banner Website Ad Banner.jpg (235 KB)

All news    


Digital-Card---250x295.jpg (26 KB)

12.png (9 KB)

About agency

Address: Armenia, 22 Saryan Street, Yerevan, 0002, Armenpress
Tel.: +374 11 539818
E-mail: [email protected]