Kidney disease gene linked to debilitating mental disorder

New Delhi, Jan 5 (ANI): Oz researchers have found that gene mutations, which cause a rare kidney disease, may also be involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Researchers from the Centenary Institute in Sydney have identified mutations that stop the gene working properly in the kidneys, and suspect these same mutations are also involved in OCD, reports English.news.cn.

They hope to develop their findings into a simple urine test that can allow earlier diagnosis of children with OCD, also known as debilitating mental disorder.

"During the past few decades studies have revealed that OCD has a strong genetic component," said John Rasko of Centenary Institute, in a statement.

And various genetic studies had linked the disease to the SLC1A1 gene, he said, but there was no physical proof of how the gene caused it.

"People with DA can be identified through a simple urine test. If this idea is confirmed in clinical trials, a simple urine test might be used to screen young children ... to identify anyone who may be at risk of early onset OCD," said Rasko.

The findings were published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. (ANI)