If epigenetics is related to environmental influences triggering a susceptibility to mental illness—do you know particular ones leading to schizophrenia?

A number of environmental influences acting on the developing brain are suspected to increase or trigger susceptibility to mental illness. For example, maternal infections during pregnancy or obstetric complications have been the focus of numerous studies. However, these factors make, generally speaking, only a small contribution to the overall risk to develop, for example, schizophrenia and whether or not epigenetics plays a causal role in these scenarios is still under investigation.

Schahram Akbarian, M.D., Ph.D.
Scientific Council Member
1993, 2000 NARSAD Young Investigator Grantee
1997 Klerman Prizewinner
Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Chief of the Division of Psychiatric Epigenomics
Mount Sinai School of Medicine