The research team, led by Alexander B. Niculescu III, MD, PhD, investigated blood gene expression biomarkers for suicide using a multistep approach, beginning with blood samples from 66 people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. They tested those blood samples against biomarkers identified from blood samples of 45 people who had committed suicide.
Based on their findings, the researchers subsequently tested samples against another group of individuals to determine how well they could predict if an individual would report suicidal thoughts. They determined levels of certain RNA molecules changed in a person’s blood as they experienced suicidal thoughts.
“We hope that our risk assessment tools may become self-canceling predictions … as they can lead to precision prevention with early targeted interventions: biological, psychological and social,” the study authors conclude. “Given that one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds worldwide, the importance and urgency of efforts such as ours cannot be overstated.”
Click here to read the full paper.
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