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01/13/2008: "Inter-ethnic brain differences proven"

Different variations in the same gene influence how well different ethnic groups, and people within the same ethnic group, respond to various antipsychotic medications, report NIMH-funded researchers.

* Patients of African ancestry with a certain variation responded better to the medication perphenazine than to the newer medications quetiapine and ziprasidone.
* Variations in the gene predicted how well patients of European ancestry responded to the newer medication risperidone.

The same genetic variations did not have the same predictive value for ziprasidone in European-ancestry patients.

[ These are physical differences in brain chemistry. ]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080108100014.htm