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Schizophrenia is the price we pay for minds poised near the edge of a cliff

(www.psychiatrymargins.com)
262 points Anon84 | 3 comments | 28 Jun 25 21:22 UTC | HN request time: 0.473s | source
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drgo ◴[29 Jun 25 04:40 UTC] No.44410403[source]▶
Is it possible that the pro-schizophrenia genes persist because they offer other (non-neurological) benefits, e.g., lower risk of cancer? Siblings of patients with schizophrenia are less likely to develop cancer, and in several studies these patients had lower risk of developing cancer despite higher prevalence of smoking.
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FollowingTheDao ◴[29 Jun 25 04:59 UTC] No.44410474[source]▶
There’s no such thing as a “pro schizophrenia genes”. There are only genes that increase the risk of schizophrenia, and this is probably due to environmental variables.

Exchanging a risk for cancer for a risk of schizophrenia is not a win-win situation. You’re just switching one set of risk genes for another.

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01HNNWZ0MV43FF ◴[29 Jun 25 14:54 UTC] No.44413656[source]▶
> There are only genes that increase the risk of schizophrenia

I think that's what GP was saying?

> You’re just switching one set of risk genes for another.

I think... that's what GP was saying?

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1. FollowingTheDao ◴[29 Jun 25 16:46 UTC] No.44414456[source]▶
>> You’re just switching one set of risk genes for another. > I think... that's what GP was saying?

If you are switching one low survival gene for another there is no net benefit.

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2. lazyasciiart ◴[29 Jun 25 21:41 UTC] No.44416685[source]▶
You're begging the question, They asked is there some unnoticed survival benefit.
3. mark-r ◴[01 Jul 25 00:44 UTC] No.44429474[source]▶
It depends very much on the likelihood that the gene causes a disorder, and the deadliness of the disorder. Those two outcomes could be vastly different.