Scientists in Japan have identified a gene variant that may be linked to narcolepsy -- a condition marked by excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired vision and muscle weakness.
|Last Updated: Sep 29, 2008, 08:55 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Hong Kong, Sept 29: Scientists in Japan have identified a gene variant that may be linked to narcolepsy -- a condition marked by excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired vision and muscle weakness.It occurs in 1 out of 2,500 individuals in the United States and Europe, but is at least 4 times more frequent in Japanese.
The researchers analyzed the genomes, or DNA, of 222 narcoleptic Japanese and 389 others who did not have that condition, and one gene variant occurred with significant frequency among those with narcolepsy, they wrote in a paper published in Nature Genetics.
"45 percent of those with narcolepsy had this gene variant compared to 30 percent of those without this condition," Professor Katsushi Tokunaga of the department of human genetics at the University of Tokyo said in a phone interview.
Identification of this gene variant could pave the way for experts to hunt for a treatment, Tokunaga said.
The gene is located between the genes CPT1B and CHKB, both of which appear to be linked to the disorder. CPT1B controls an enzyme that regulates sleep, while CHKB is linked to the sleep-wake cycle.
The scientists took a further step to examine that same gene variant in 424 Koreans, 785 people of European descent and 184 African Americans.
It occurred with significant frequency among narcoleptic Koreans, but the association was not evident in the Europeans and African Americans.
"We have no idea why this gene variant occurs with such high frequency among (narcoleptic) Japanese and Koreans ... it may be selection, or chance," Tokunaga said.
ANI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.