It’s Not Just in Your Head: The Genetics of Mental Illness | Tamoha Saha | TEDxLosAltosHigh

hi I’m Moe and I wanted to talk today

hi I’m Moe and I wanted to talk today about the physical complications of

about the physical complications of

about the physical complications of mental illness so I think the stigma

mental illness so I think the stigma

mental illness so I think the stigma around mental illness in the Silicon

around mental illness in the Silicon

around mental illness in the Silicon Valley comes from the fact that you

Valley comes from the fact that you

Valley comes from the fact that you can’t see mental illness it’s pretty

can’t see mental illness it’s pretty

can’t see mental illness it’s pretty much all in your head it’s not tangible

much all in your head it’s not tangible

much all in your head it’s not tangible so it may as well be invisible but the

so it may as well be invisible but the

so it may as well be invisible but the thing is it’s actually a really more

thing is it’s actually a really more

thing is it’s actually a really more dangerous illness than you would think

dangerous illness than you would think

dangerous illness than you would think if you think about it this way

if you think about it this way

if you think about it this way organisms main goal is to survive they

organisms main goal is to survive they

organisms main goal is to survive they will do anything to live but mental

will do anything to live but mental

will do anything to live but mental illness overcomes this primal

illness overcomes this primal

illness overcomes this primal foundational instinct and causes people

foundational instinct and causes people

foundational instinct and causes people to commit suicide so it’s really not

to commit suicide so it’s really not

to commit suicide so it’s really not just a psychological problem it’s also a

just a psychological problem it’s also a

just a psychological problem it’s also a real biological one now this happens to

real biological one now this happens to

real biological one now this happens to everyone at some point where they get so

everyone at some point where they get so

everyone at some point where they get so stressed or so worked up that something

stressed or so worked up that something

stressed or so worked up that something in their body changes and they don’t

in their body changes and they don’t

in their body changes and they don’t feel as well as they usually would for

feel as well as they usually would for

feel as well as they usually would for example last night I was walking around

example last night I was walking around

example last night I was walking around my kitchen at 2:00 a.m. giving this

my kitchen at 2:00 a.m. giving this

my kitchen at 2:00 a.m. giving this presentation to my dog and I could not

presentation to my dog and I could not

presentation to my dog and I could not breathe and that happens to everyone

breathe and that happens to everyone

breathe and that happens to everyone once in awhile but then when it happens

once in awhile but then when it happens

once in awhile but then when it happens over a long period of time that’s what

over a long period of time that’s what

over a long period of time that’s what you would call a mental illness this is

you would call a mental illness this is

you would call a mental illness this is many of you probably seen before the

many of you probably seen before the

many of you probably seen before the difference between a brain of a

difference between a brain of a

difference between a brain of a depressed person and the brain of a

depressed person and the brain of a

depressed person and the brain of a normal person and there is like not

normal person and there is like not

normal person and there is like not enough biological activity in the

enough biological activity in the

enough biological activity in the depressed person’s brain because their

depressed person’s brain because their

depressed person’s brain because their brain doesn’t function the same way and

brain doesn’t function the same way and

brain doesn’t function the same way and this is what most mental illness

this is what most mental illness

this is what most mental illness medication presents today what it does

medication presents today what it does

medication presents today what it does it usually focuses on the activity in

it usually focuses on the activity in

it usually focuses on the activity in the brain and how to change it and force

the brain and how to change it and force

the brain and how to change it and force it to become more like the mental the

it to become more like the mental the

it to become more like the mental the mental health of a normal person’s brain

mental health of a normal person’s brain

mental health of a normal person’s brain most mental illness medication today the

most mental illness medication today the

most mental illness medication today the most popular one and the safest one is

most popular one and the safest one is

most popular one and the safest one is an SSRI that’s a selective serotonin

an SSRI that’s a selective serotonin

an SSRI that’s a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and what it does is

reuptake inhibitor and what it does is

reuptake inhibitor and what it does is well their serotonin in your brain just

well their serotonin in your brain just

well their serotonin in your brain just floating around and the more you have of

floating around and the more you have of

floating around and the more you have of it the happier you are but some people

it the happier you are but some people

it the happier you are but some people aren’t able to make a natural amount of

aren’t able to make a natural amount of

aren’t able to make a natural amount of this enough to make them not only just

this enough to make them not only just

this enough to make them not only just happy but mentally healthy so what an

happy but mentally healthy so what an

happy but mentally healthy so what an SSRI does is it blocks the channels that

SSRI does is it blocks the channels that

SSRI does is it blocks the channels that recycle serotonin because serotonin is

recycle serotonin because serotonin is

recycle serotonin because serotonin is broken down and then turn into some

broken down and then turn into some

broken down and then turn into some other neurotransmitter and it keeps this

other neurotransmitter and it keeps this

other neurotransmitter and it keeps this recycling from happening so then you can

recycling from happening so then you can

recycling from happening so then you can have more serotonin kind of floating

have more serotonin kind of floating

have more serotonin kind of floating around in your brain even though your

around in your brain even though your

around in your brain even though your brain doesn’t really want it to be there

brain doesn’t really want it to be there

brain doesn’t really want it to be there so it’s kind of like forcing your

so it’s kind of like forcing your

so it’s kind of like forcing your happiness but it works really well for a

happiness but it works really well for a

happiness but it works really well for a lot of people combined with behavioral

lot of people combined with behavioral

lot of people combined with behavioral therapy

therapy

therapy so but now what we’re trying to do is go

so but now what we’re trying to do is go

so but now what we’re trying to do is go beyond changing what causes depression

beyond changing what causes depression

beyond changing what causes depression and going to why depression is caused or

and going to why depression is caused or

and going to why depression is caused or anxiety has caused or really any other

anxiety has caused or really any other

anxiety has caused or really any other mental illness in our body any molecule

mental illness in our body any molecule

mental illness in our body any molecule comes from a gene any protein you have

comes from a gene any protein you have

comes from a gene any protein you have floating around your body comes from

floating around your body comes from

floating around your body comes from because a gene expresses that into a

because a gene expresses that into a

because a gene expresses that into a protein here is a gene one of the many

protein here is a gene one of the many

protein here is a gene one of the many genes that can be related back to mental

genes that can be related back to mental

genes that can be related back to mental illness the serotonin transporter gene

illness the serotonin transporter gene

illness the serotonin transporter gene as you can probably tell transport

as you can probably tell transport

as you can probably tell transport serotonin from where it’s made in a cell

serotonin from where it’s made in a cell

serotonin from where it’s made in a cell to your brain but sometimes it doesn’t

to your brain but sometimes it doesn’t

to your brain but sometimes it doesn’t function properly

function properly

function properly so basically if you think about it your

so basically if you think about it your

so basically if you think about it your genes can at least partially control

genes can at least partially control

genes can at least partially control your feelings now we have to go to

your feelings now we have to go to

your feelings now we have to go to epigenetics to see what we can do with

epigenetics to see what we can do with

epigenetics to see what we can do with the concept that genes can affect your

the concept that genes can affect your

the concept that genes can affect your emotions so epigenetics is basically an

emotions so epigenetics is basically an

emotions so epigenetics is basically an external system of genetic expression

external system of genetic expression

external system of genetic expression that not many people know about because

that not many people know about because

that not many people know about because it was discovered quite recently

it was discovered quite recently

it was discovered quite recently actually so you have trillions of cells

actually so you have trillions of cells

actually so you have trillions of cells in your body and each of them have the

in your body and each of them have the

in your body and each of them have the exact same set of DNA but I’ve always

exact same set of DNA but I’ve always

exact same set of DNA but I’ve always wondered why do some cells turn into

wondered why do some cells turn into

wondered why do some cells turn into skin cells and some sent into brain

skin cells and some sent into brain

skin cells and some sent into brain cells and so on and so forth

cells and so on and so forth

cells and so on and so forth what happens is there’s a thing called

what happens is there’s a thing called

what happens is there’s a thing called epigenetics that physically constricts

epigenetics that physically constricts

epigenetics that physically constricts your genome to expressing only the

your genome to expressing only the

your genome to expressing only the things it like the cell wants it to

things it like the cell wants it to

things it like the cell wants it to Express so you have a cell in your brain

Express so you have a cell in your brain

Express so you have a cell in your brain other cells send signals to that cell

other cells send signals to that cell

other cells send signals to that cell and say to the gene hey only express

and say to the gene hey only express

and say to the gene hey only express this part and that’s why some part of

this part and that’s why some part of

this part and that’s why some part of your is some cells are skin cells and

your is some cells are skin cells and

your is some cells are skin cells and some are brain cells and so on and so

some are brain cells and so on and so

some are brain cells and so on and so forth so there’s the actual blueprint of

forth so there’s the actual blueprint of

forth so there’s the actual blueprint of your body which the DNA is known as and

your body which the DNA is known as and

your body which the DNA is known as and then it’s what I would call the interior

then it’s what I would call the interior

then it’s what I would call the interior designer which is epigenetics so it

designer which is epigenetics so it

designer which is epigenetics so it controls how the building is built

controls how the building is built

controls how the building is built basically this is why twins some of that

basically this is why twins some of that

basically this is why twins some of that they have the exact same DNA but if one

they have the exact same DNA but if one

they have the exact same DNA but if one smokes and the other doesn’t it they

smokes and the other doesn’t it they

smokes and the other doesn’t it they develop cancer because their Abba

develop cancer because their Abba

develop cancer because their Abba genetics are changed epic so imagine

genetics are changed epic so imagine

genetics are changed epic so imagine your DNA as a long rope if the Rope is

your DNA as a long rope if the Rope is

your DNA as a long rope if the Rope is coiled then you can’t use it and

coiled then you can’t use it and

coiled then you can’t use it and therefore the Rope is on coil then you

therefore the Rope is on coil then you

therefore the Rope is on coil then you can use it the way the coiling and

can use it the way the coiling and

can use it the way the coiling and uncoiling happens in DNA is methane or a

uncoiling happens in DNA is methane or a

uncoiling happens in DNA is methane or a methyl group and it attaches to the DNA

methyl group and it attaches to the DNA

methyl group and it attaches to the DNA the more methyl there is in an area the

the more methyl there is in an area the

the more methyl there is in an area the more coiling occur

more coiling occur

more coiling occur so if you think about it you can kind of

so if you think about it you can kind of

so if you think about it you can kind of throw methyl at a G and if you want it

throw methyl at a G and if you want it

throw methyl at a G and if you want it to stop working and it’ll coil up and it

to stop working and it’ll coil up and it

to stop working and it’ll coil up and it won’t work anymore and you can do it the

won’t work anymore and you can do it the

won’t work anymore and you can do it the reverse way too by taking methyl out of

reverse way too by taking methyl out of

reverse way too by taking methyl out of this but if it’s that easy why aren’t we

this but if it’s that easy why aren’t we

this but if it’s that easy why aren’t we doing that with depression or mental

doing that with depression or mental

doing that with depression or mental illness already well people actually are

illness already well people actually are

illness already well people actually are using epigenetics in different types of

using epigenetics in different types of

using epigenetics in different types of therapy and one thing that they’re

therapy and one thing that they’re

therapy and one thing that they’re actually using it on is cancer therapy

actually using it on is cancer therapy

actually using it on is cancer therapy because cancer is clearly something

because cancer is clearly something

because cancer is clearly something that’s not supposed to be there there’s

that’s not supposed to be there there’s

that’s not supposed to be there there’s a lump of cells in your body and you

a lump of cells in your body and you

a lump of cells in your body and you want it to go away

want it to go away

want it to go away and the this lump of cells in your body

and the this lump of cells in your body

and the this lump of cells in your body occurs because there’s something wrong

occurs because there’s something wrong

occurs because there’s something wrong with your gene and because it’s so

with your gene and because it’s so

with your gene and because it’s so obvious to tell that you have cancer

obvious to tell that you have cancer

obvious to tell that you have cancer then it’s easier for a scientist to

then it’s easier for a scientist to

then it’s easier for a scientist to pinpoint hey where where did the cell

pinpoint hey where where did the cell

pinpoint hey where where did the cell cycle go wrong in order for these cells

cycle go wrong in order for these cells

cycle go wrong in order for these cells to react the way they do here a bunch of

to react the way they do here a bunch of

to react the way they do here a bunch of different types of cancers that have

different types of cancers that have

different types of cancers that have been treated with methylation therapy in

been treated with methylation therapy in

been treated with methylation therapy in combination with other types of therapy

combination with other types of therapy

combination with other types of therapy like chemotherapy chemotherapy and an

like chemotherapy chemotherapy and an

like chemotherapy chemotherapy and an SSRI can kind of be like compared to

SSRI can kind of be like compared to

SSRI can kind of be like compared to each other an SSRI tries to fix the

each other an SSRI tries to fix the

each other an SSRI tries to fix the problem in your brain kind of like

problem in your brain kind of like

problem in your brain kind of like putting tape over a crack in the wall

putting tape over a crack in the wall

putting tape over a crack in the wall just like chemotherapy tries to get rid

just like chemotherapy tries to get rid

just like chemotherapy tries to get rid of the problem but not really cause the

of the problem but not really cause the

of the problem but not really cause the fix the root of the problem and that’s

fix the root of the problem and that’s

fix the root of the problem and that’s what we would do with cancer the thing

what we would do with cancer the thing

what we would do with cancer the thing with mental illness is that you can’t

with mental illness is that you can’t

with mental illness is that you can’t find one specific gene that targets

find one specific gene that targets

find one specific gene that targets mental illness twenty-eight percent of

mental illness twenty-eight percent of

mental illness twenty-eight percent of mental illness is hereditary but it’s

mental illness is hereditary but it’s

mental illness is hereditary but it’s not just one gene in fact it’s not even

not just one gene in fact it’s not even

not just one gene in fact it’s not even just depression or anxiety it’s bipolar

just depression or anxiety it’s bipolar

just depression or anxiety it’s bipolar disorder schizophrenia any type of

disorder schizophrenia any type of

disorder schizophrenia any type of mental illness you can think of has some

mental illness you can think of has some

mental illness you can think of has some hereditary concept to it so here we have

hereditary concept to it so here we have

hereditary concept to it so here we have another another picture of epigenetic

another another picture of epigenetic

another another picture of epigenetic sequence and you can see the methyl

sequence and you can see the methyl

sequence and you can see the methyl groups on to it and the proteins that

groups on to it and the proteins that

groups on to it and the proteins that you see there are called histones and

you see there are called histones and

you see there are called histones and that’s what they wrap around and that’s

that’s what they wrap around and that’s

that’s what they wrap around and that’s what the methylation therapy in cancer

what the methylation therapy in cancer

what the methylation therapy in cancer targets and once we find a gene or

targets and once we find a gene or

targets and once we find a gene or multiple genes or just any type of way

multiple genes or just any type of way

multiple genes or just any type of way to target a specific gene that will

to target a specific gene that will

to target a specific gene that will unwrap or wrap a gene that you want to

unwrap or wrap a gene that you want to

unwrap or wrap a gene that you want to use or you want to stop from using then

use or you want to stop from using then

use or you want to stop from using then that’s how you can combine therapy and

that’s how you can combine therapy and

that’s how you can combine therapy and medication and not just put a piece of

medication and not just put a piece of

medication and not just put a piece of tape over the problem but fill the wall

tape over the problem but fill the wall

tape over the problem but fill the wall with plaster more of permanent solution

with plaster more of permanent solution

with plaster more of permanent solution rather than a rather than a temporary

rather than a rather than a temporary

rather than a rather than a temporary one

one

one so what um what most people think in

so what um what most people think in

so what um what most people think in this area is that since you can’t see it

this area is that since you can’t see it

this area is that since you can’t see it there’s really not much to be done about

there’s really not much to be done about

there’s really not much to be done about it but there’s a lot to be done about it

it but there’s a lot to be done about it

it but there’s a lot to be done about it like when you experience high periods of

like when you experience high periods of

like when you experience high periods of stress like during finals or something’s

stress like during finals or something’s

stress like during finals or something’s like the issue in your life that really

like the issue in your life that really

like the issue in your life that really can’t be fixed you you get high blood

can’t be fixed you you get high blood

can’t be fixed you you get high blood pressure you have trouble sleeping you

pressure you have trouble sleeping you

pressure you have trouble sleeping you have trouble eating and that’s that’s

have trouble eating and that’s that’s

have trouble eating and that’s that’s normal for everyone in their lifetimes

normal for everyone in their lifetimes

normal for everyone in their lifetimes for like a week or two weeks or

for like a week or two weeks or

for like a week or two weeks or something like that but for some people

something like that but for some people

something like that but for some people this happens every single there of their

this happens every single there of their

this happens every single there of their lives where they feel caught like

lives where they feel caught like

lives where they feel caught like constant anxiety and depression and

constant anxiety and depression and

constant anxiety and depression and that’s what these medications are for

that’s what these medications are for

that’s what these medications are for even though you can’t see it it’s

even though you can’t see it it’s

even though you can’t see it it’s definitely there

definitely there

definitely there and people with depression anxiety are

and people with depression anxiety are

and people with depression anxiety are more likely to die of heart disease or

more likely to die of heart disease or

more likely to die of heart disease or even more likely to get mumps in their

even more likely to get mumps in their

even more likely to get mumps in their older age so weakens your immune system

older age so weakens your immune system

older age so weakens your immune system it does everything to make you a less

it does everything to make you a less

it does everything to make you a less healthy person which is why preventive

healthy person which is why preventive

healthy person which is why preventive care for depression anxiety is one of

care for depression anxiety is one of

care for depression anxiety is one of the most important things you can do for

the most important things you can do for

the most important things you can do for yourself not only just now but in the

yourself not only just now but in the

yourself not only just now but in the long run because there’s no point in

long run because there’s no point in

long run because there’s no point in working so hard if you end up not being

working so hard if you end up not being

working so hard if you end up not being mentally healthy enough to enjoy it in

mentally healthy enough to enjoy it in

mentally healthy enough to enjoy it in the future what I hope that you all take

the future what I hope that you all take

the future what I hope that you all take away from this talk today is that mental

away from this talk today is that mental

away from this talk today is that mental illness is a real problem it’s not just

illness is a real problem it’s not just

illness is a real problem it’s not just in your head as I’ve said many times

in your head as I’ve said many times

in your head as I’ve said many times before it’s a it’s a problem that can be

before it’s a it’s a problem that can be

before it’s a it’s a problem that can be treated with medication and there are

treated with medication and there are

treated with medication and there are innovations being made to make it less

innovations being made to make it less

innovations being made to make it less of a challenging task but in the end it

of a challenging task but in the end it

of a challenging task but in the end it all starts with you realizing that there

all starts with you realizing that there

all starts with you realizing that there is an issue to take care of and if you

is an issue to take care of and if you

is an issue to take care of and if you take care of it you will be a healthier

take care of it you will be a healthier

take care of it you will be a healthier person in the long run thank you

person in the long run thank you

person in the long run thank you [Applause]