New Studies Suggest Link Between Cardiovascular Disease and Schizophrenia

New studies are suggesting that there may be a biological link between cardiovascular disease and schizophrenia.

A study coming out in the Feb. 7, 2013 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics explores the possibility between this link. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of premature death among schizophrenia patients, who often die from heart and blood vessel disorders at a rate that is twice as high as the average person.

"These results have important clinical implications, adding to our growing awareness that cardiovascular disease is under-recognized and under-treated in mentally ill individuals," said study first author Ole Andreassen, MD, PhD, an adjunct professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and professor of psychiatry at the University of Oslo. 

Conducted by principal investigator Anders M. Dale, PhD, professor of radiology, neurosciences, psychiatry and cognitive science at UC San Diego School of Medicine, a group of researchers examined the DNA in different participants to determine the results. An international team of researchers used a novel statistical model to magnify the analytical powers of genome-wide association studies or GWAS. 

Differing bits of sequential DNA, also called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs in groups are compared to find common genetic variants that might be linked to a trait or disease. Researchers then boosted the power of GWAS by adding information based on genetic pleiotropy, the concept that at least some genes influence multiple traits or phenotypes. 

Scientists confirmed nine SNPs linked to schizophrenia in prior studies, also newly identified 16 loci, some of which are also associated with CVD. Among these shared risk factors: triglyceride and lipoprotein levels, waist-hip ration, systolic blood pressure and body mass index. 

In addition to studying schizophrenia through the genes, the new analysis method provides the possibility to study a number of disease and genetic traits, thus gaining new insight into those areas.