Posted on 07/31/2007 3:19:24 PM PDT by blam
Left-handers more at risk of mental illness
By Laura Clout
Last Updated: 1:49am BST 31/07/2007
Left-handed people may have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia, scientists have found.
An international group of scientists, led by a team at Oxford University, have identified a gene that seems to increase the chance of being left-handed.
The researchers said that the same gene - called LRRTM1 - may slightly increase the risk of developing the brain disorder.
Schizophrenia is a highly complex condition that results in impaired perception and thought, it affects around one in every 100 people.
Although little is known about the gene, the Oxford team suspects it modifies the development of asymmetry in the human brain.
In humans, the left side of the brain usually controls speech and language, and the right side controls emotion. In left-handers, however, this pattern is often reversed. In a similar way, people with schizophrenia often have unusual patterns of brain asymmetry.
The leader of the study, Dr Clyde Francks of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, said: "People really should not be concerned by this result. There are many factors which make individuals more likely to develop schizophrenia and the vast majority of left-handers will never develop a problem. We don't yet know the precise role of this gene."
There is also evidence that asymmetry of the brain was an important feature during human evolution. Apes' brains are more symmetrical than humans' and they do not show a preference for using either the right or left hand.
Dr Francks added: "We hope this study's findings will help us to understand the development of asymmetry in the brain.
"Asymmetry is a fundamental feature of the human brain that is disrupted in many psychiatric conditions."
Well hell’s bells I’ll take a stab at it.
Don’t know about mental illness but every left-hander I know is awkward, uncoordinated and shouldn’t, under any circumstance, be left around power tools. Never let a left-hander cut your Thanksgiving turkey.
So okay my husband is left-handed and you must smile.
Seriously, there’s something slightly “off” about left handed people.
Here’s hoping I don’t get arrested for a hate crime.
Osama Bin Laden is left-handed, as well.
Clearly a serious character flaw.
Ronald Reagan was left handed
Lefties are schizo, huh? What bulls**t!
It’s not bulls**t!
Yes it is!
No it ain’t!
Die die die!
I’m left handed and I demand reparations! Where’s Jesse and Al when I need them?
Oh yeah, I am clumsy but that in no way reduces the pain your posting has cost me.
OMG! Not only am I left handed but I’m a Gemini to boot, definately doomed.....
Hey, I’m left handed and I object to this piece of slander!
All the greatest leaders, scientists and writers in the entire human history have been left handers. They say Jesus was a left hander, so there!
So that’s what’s wrong with me. Dang...and my whole family, except my oldest is left handed...neato!!
Obviously a study done by people who are not left handed.
I did not know this.
so is george hw and bill clinton.
Oh, nevermind. I thought it said left wingers. Pardon me.
yeah and there are a lot of highly coordinated left handers. Watch a baseball game.
I’m a leftie, and my brain is like keeping control of a wild horse. Some days it just goes where it wants.
Hey, my dad and I and both my sons are lefties. Just because we channel aliens doesn't make us "off".
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