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Mitochondrial Involvement in Mental Disorders: Energy Metabolism and Genetic and Environmental Factors

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Reviews on Biomarker Studies in Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((PMISB,volume 1118))

Abstract

Mental disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ), are generally characterized by a combination of abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behavior, and relationships with others. Multiple risk factors incorporating genetic and environmental susceptibility are associated with development of these disorders. Mitochondria have a central role in the energy metabolism, and the literature suggests energy metabolism abnormalities are widespread in the brains of subjects with MDD, BPD, and SZ. Numerous studies have shown altered expressions of mitochondria-related genes in these mental disorders. In addition, environmental factors for these disorders, such as stresses, have been suggested to induce mitochondrial abnormalities. Moreover, animal studies have suggested that interactions of altered expression of mitochondria-related genes and environmental factors might be involved in mental disorders. Further investigations into interactions of mitochondrial abnormalities with environmental factors are required to elucidate of the pathogenesis of these mental disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Program for Advancing Strategic International Networks to Accelerate the Circulation of Talented Researchers, Grant No. S2603, and the Japan Foundation for Pediatric Research (to K.I.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy

    Keiko Iwata

  2. Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan

    Keiko Iwata

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  1. Keiko Iwata
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Correspondence to Keiko Iwata .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil

    Paul C. Guest

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Iwata, K. (2019). Mitochondrial Involvement in Mental Disorders: Energy Metabolism and Genetic and Environmental Factors. In: Guest, P. (eds) Reviews on Biomarker Studies in Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 1118. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05542-4_3

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