Urine tests for OCD
Researchers from the Centenary Institute have identified gene mutations that impair kidney function leading to a rare kidney disorder known as dicarboxylic aminoaciduria (DA). The same gene, which is also crucial for normal brain function, has been connected with obsessive compulsive-disorder (OCD). The findings published today in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigation could lead to earlier diagnosis of children who may be at risk of early onset OCD through a simple, non-invasive urine test conducted routinely on newborns.
Lead researchers, Professor John Rasko and Dr Charles Bailey from the Centenary Institute, identified mutations in the gene SLC1A1. This gene encodes a protein pump which scavenges important amino acids from our food in the kidney. But the identical pump in the brain also governs the movement of the same amino acids which act as neurotransmitters.
