current Reseach
Walsh Research Institute is advancing research into biochemical, genetic, and epigenetic impairments associated with mental illnesses. Our current experimental and paper studies are focused on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the cause of the autism epidemic. Each of these illnesses involves accelerated DNA damage, and we are developing advanced antioxidant therapies to cope with superoxide and other insidious free radical assaults in the brain.
Research Philosophy
Since 1960, psychiatry has focused on (1) diagnosis of individual mental illnesses and their phenotypes (DSM-5) followed by (2) psychiatric medications and other treatments that have shown some degree of efficacy in careful experimental studies. This model (which often involves trial and error) has helped millions of patients, but major advances in science suggest a better approach for treatment of a mental disorder. We soon will have the ability to identify a patient’s specific misbehaving neurotransmitters (NTs). WRI research is aimed at epigenetic and alternate approaches for regulating activity of major NTs.
Dr. Walsh believes protecting our precious DNA strands will be the next major breakthrough in healthcare. We are exploring lab testing that identifies genetic weaknesses in regulating oxidative stress or DNA repair, and development of powerful antioxidant formulations to cope with accelerated DNA damage.
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RESEARCH INITIATIVE Bipolar DisorderMore than 70 million are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but treatment effectiveness remains very unsatisfactory despite 100+ years of research and hundreds of clinical treatments. A major barrier has been the failure of medical science to understand the basic causes and mechanisms of this complex illness. Dr. Walsh recently completed a 10-year study exploring recent advances in neuroscience and genetics searching for bipolar insights.
An early finding was discovery that behavior disorder is a late onset DNA-damage illness involving creation of newly-mutated genes with advancing age. A novel exclusion analysis of 64 pro-bipolar gene variants indicated the principal cause of bipolar disorder is genetic predisposition for two coincident factors:
This led to discovery of the likely mechanism of mania/depression switching and development of an advanced Theory of Bipolar Disorder. If correct, this study will lead directly to new effective treatments and effective prevention for high-risk individuals. These findings will require validation by independent researchers before acceptance by mainstream psychiatry. Dr. Walsh’s new book The Essence of Bipolar Disorder provides a comprehensive description of this investigation. |
RESEARCH INITIATIVE
Schizophrenia
In 2019, the Walsh Research Institute discovered that a major change in the schizophrenia population occurred since 1975. The overmethylated form of schizophrenia (excessive dopamine neurotransmission) that represented more than 50% of cases in 1975 had declined to less than 10%. In addition, incidence of the undermethylated phenotype (excessive activity at NMDA and low serotonin activity) had increased to more than 65% of new cases.
A follow-up study involves testing of folate levels in birth-mothers of undermethylated schizophrenics. We believe that excessive prenatal levels of folate may be associated with the recent epidemic of this SZ phenotype. About 10% of the female population are born with a genetic tendency for abnormally elevated blood folate and they usually receive indiscriminate robust folic acid supplements during pregnancy.. This controlled study measures folate and B-12 levels in volunteer birth mothers of persons diagnosed with the illness. This experimental study tests the hypothesis: "Excessive maternal folate levels have a major impact on schizophrenia risk."
WRI is also studying the 100+ schizophrenia gene variants identified by the international GWAS Consortium using Dr. Walsh’s novel exclusion analysis that led to improved understanding of bipolar disorder. Early results suggest schizophrenia is associated with a genetic tendency for accelerated damage to DNA and cells. However, the primary cause of the illness is still unknown.
A follow-up study involves testing of folate levels in birth-mothers of undermethylated schizophrenics. We believe that excessive prenatal levels of folate may be associated with the recent epidemic of this SZ phenotype. About 10% of the female population are born with a genetic tendency for abnormally elevated blood folate and they usually receive indiscriminate robust folic acid supplements during pregnancy.. This controlled study measures folate and B-12 levels in volunteer birth mothers of persons diagnosed with the illness. This experimental study tests the hypothesis: "Excessive maternal folate levels have a major impact on schizophrenia risk."
WRI is also studying the 100+ schizophrenia gene variants identified by the international GWAS Consortium using Dr. Walsh’s novel exclusion analysis that led to improved understanding of bipolar disorder. Early results suggest schizophrenia is associated with a genetic tendency for accelerated damage to DNA and cells. However, the primary cause of the illness is still unknown.
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RESEARCH INITIATIVE Autism
In the 1990’s, Dr. Walsh reported that more than 95% of autistic children in his large database were undermethylated. At the time there was very little interest in a possible role for methylation in depression, psychotic disorders, and other mental illnesses. Walsh’s autism finding was later confirmed by Drs. Jill James, Richard Deth, and other methylation experts and led to an explosion of methylation research that continues today. A published 2016 Johns Hopkins study reported a correlation between excessive maternal folate levels and autism risk that deserved greater attention.
In 2019, Dr. Walsh found six separate cord-blood studies that reported folate supplements during pregnancy reduced the methyl content of the baby’s DNA. This strongly suggested that indiscriminate folate supplements for all pregnant women may be responsible for the apparent autism epidemic. WRI studies indicated that nearly 10% of today’s female population exhibit serum folate levels that are 100-200% higher than accepted “normal” concentrations, suggesting an innate genetic tendency. Since year 2020, Dr. Walsh has recommended that all women of child-bearing age should be tested for folate status: those with low or normal levels should receive prenatal folate supplements to prevent spinal bifida and other neurological impairments; and those with chronic very-elevated folate levels should avoid folate supplements. WRI is conducting an experimental study to determine if mothers of children diagnosed with severe autism have higher folate levels than control mothers of non-autistic children. |