WEEK 5: Introduction and Bibliography
- Topic of Interest
My topic is about the gene mutation MTHFR and what physical and cognitive effects it may have on an individual. I recently got diagnosed with this and I want to see if there is a connection between the symptoms I have and studies that have been done.
- Work Done in this Field
In the York College library website there is not a lot of studies done in this area. Majority of the studies were either too old to use, not peer reviewed, or did not have the full PDF. So I was left with very limited information. An article I found was about this gene mutation and migraines. The background to Samaan et al. study:
“Migraine is a common disorder that often coexists with depression. While a functional polymorphism in methyleneterahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR C677T) has been implicated in depression; the evidence to support an association of MTHFR with migraine has been inconclusive. We aim to investigate the effect of this variant on propensity for migraine and to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of MTHFR and migraine to date”
So in this study they have found that migraine and depression are associated with the gene mutation MTHFR.
- What needs to be done/ Questions
- Since there are not so many studies in this area is this valid information?
- Is the gene mutation the only factor? Did the participants in the studies have any other health issues that could also be the cause?
- Are the participants coming from the same places or is it random?
- I have to find more research to gain as much information to back up my research.
- How I will fill in the gaps
- Find more research
- Use what I know from my own examinations
- Find out what triggers this gene mutation?
- By having this can it lead to people becoming addicted to drugs/alcohol?
- Thesis
It is predicted that gene mutation is associated with migraines and depression which leads individuals to become alcohol dependent.
