Method for determining sensitivity or resistance to compounds that activate the brain serotonin system
The invention relates to a method for determining whether a patient suffering from a condition that is susceptible to treatment with a compound that activates the brain serotonin system is susceptible or resistant to treatment with the compound. The method includes establishing whether the patient is a pre-adult, a transition age patient, or an adult and observing whether the genome of the patient contains at least one copy of a BDNF allele having a genetic alteration. The method further includes correlating the presence of the allele containing the genetic alteration with susceptibility or resistance of the patient to the treatment with the compound, wherein a pre-adult patient containing the genetic alteration is correlated as being susceptible to the treatment; a transition age patient containing the genetic alteration is correlated as being susceptible or resistant to the treatment; and an adult patient containing the genetic alteration is correlated as being resistant to the treatment.
1. A method for promoting normal brain development in a pre-adult patient or a transition age patient whose genome contains at least one copy of a BDNF allele having a genetic alteration, wherein the genetic alteration comprises a single nucleotide polymorphism selected from the group consisting of G196A, CST, G225T, G374T and G380T,
the method comprising prescribing an effective amount of a compound that upregulates BDNF levels to the pre-adult patient or transition age patient.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is G196A.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is CST.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is G225T.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is G374T.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is G380T.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is homozygous for the BDNF allele.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the patient is homozygous for G196A.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is heterozygous for the BDNF allele.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is heterozygous for G196A.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is a tricyclic antidepressant, an SSRI, an SNRI, or an SARI.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is a pre-adult, and the method further comprises prescribing to the pre-adult patient an effective amount of the compound that activates the brain serotonin system.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises prescribing to the pre-adult patient an effective amount of the compound until the patient is an adult.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prescribing to the adult patient a treatment other than administration of the compound.
15. A method for promoting normal brain development in a pre-adult patient or a transition age patient whose genome contains at least one copy of a BDNF allele having a genetic alteration,
the method comprising prescribing an effective amount of a compound that upregulates BDNF levels to the pre-adult patient or transition age patient, wherein the compound is a tricyclic antidepressant, an SSRI, an SNRI, or an SARI.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the genetic alteration comprises a frame shift, one or more nucleotide additions, one or more nucleotide deletions, one or more substitutions, or a single nucleotide polymorphism.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is selected from the group consisting of G196A, C5T, G225T, G374T and G380T.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises prescribing to the pre-adult patient an effective amount of the compound until the patient is an adult.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the compound is an SSRI.