Researchers Have Pinpointed Five Blood Markers Linked to Suicide

In a discovery with potential implications for personalized medicine and therapy, scientists have identified blood compounds associated with thoughts of suicide.

Researchers from the University of California (UC) San Diego have discovered biomarkers associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, disrupting intercellular communication and potentially contributing to suicidal thoughts. Although suicide is a multifaceted issue encompassing factors like trauma and stress, the ability to identify individuals at higher risk could prove crucial for diagnostic purposes.

“Mental health conditions such as depression exert influences and triggers that extend beyond the brain,” commented Robert Naviaux, a professor at UC San Diego. “Around a decade ago, it was challenging to investigate how the overall body’s chemistry affects our behavior and mental state. However, modern technologies like metabolomics are enabling us to eavesdrop on cells’ communications in their natural biochemical language.”

Exploring Molecular Links to Suicidal Thoughts

Recently, researchers identified molecular connections to thoughts of suicide, suggesting heightened risk for individuals dealing with depression. Investigations into blood markers have been ongoing since 2019.

In this investigation, the scientists examined the blood of 99 adults experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts that were unresponsive to conventional treatments, alongside 99 “healthy” participants without a history of mental illness. While the blood of the focused group revealed numerous biochemicals, five specific ones emerged as critical factors in treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation.

The identified metabolomics, contributing to disruptions in intercellular communication, originate from the mitochondria, recognized as cell powerhouses that facilitate ATP energy production crucial for bodily functions. The five biochemicals, consistent across genders, appear to alter this process in individuals with depression.

“Mitochondria are among the most vital structures in our cells, and changes in mitochondrial functions are observed in various human diseases,” explained Naviaux. “When ATP is within the cell, it serves as an energy source, but outside the cell, it acts as a danger signal, triggering numerous protective pathways in response to environmental stressors. We hypothesize that suicide attempts may represent a broader physiological impulse to halt a stress response that has become intolerable at the cellular level.”

Tailoring Mental Health Treatments Based on New Discoveries

The researchers are optimistic that these discoveries could pave the way for more individualized mental health treatments and serve as a target for medications that might benefit individuals unresponsive to current clinical interventions.

“If we have a group of 100 individuals, either without depression or with depression and suicidal thoughts, we could accurately identify 85-90 of those at the highest risk based on five metabolites in males and another five metabolites in females,” stated Naviaux. “This could be significant for diagnostics, but it also sparks a broader conversation in the field about the underlying causes of these metabolic alterations.”

Some of the identified metabolites are already present in supplements like folate and carnitine, offering a promising avenue for further exploration.

“None of these metabolites serve as a magic solution that can completely reverse someone’s depression,” Naviaux clarified. “However, our findings suggest that there may be interventions to guide metabolism in a positive direction, aiding patients in responding better to treatment. In the context of suicide, this could potentially be sufficient to prevent individuals from reaching that critical threshold.”

Read the original article on: New atlas

Read more: Stress While Asleep Activates a Neuron Disrupting Healthy Sleep