A gene involved in some forms of intellectual disability has been identified by scientists at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

The gene is called TRAPPC9 and is possibly tied to the developmental disorders of nearly 3 percent of the population.

In the same journal two other international research teams independently confirm the findings of Dr. John B. Vincent, a scientist at CAMH, and his team.

“This spotlights the intense interest that genetics is bringing to types of inherited intellectual disability that, to date, have been poorly understood,” says Dr. Vincent.

“Now that we have identified TRAPPC9 as a gene that may be associated with hundreds of thousands of cases of intellectual disability world-wide, we can build on that knowledge with research to help individuals and their families,” says Dr. John B. Vincent.

TRAPPC9 is associated with non-syndromic types of intellectual disability; these cause up to 50 per cent of intellectual disability worldwide. “The discovery announced today sheds light on a gene for intellectual disability on one of the non-sex chromosomes,” says Dr. Vincent, “just the seventh such gene that we know of.”

With recent advances in technology it is now possible to map disease-causing genes in a single family. Researchers hope with further study medical professionals will gain more insight to understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat intellectual disabilities.

Intellectual disabilities, also known as developmental delay or mental retardation, are a group of disorders defined by diminished cognitive and adaptive development. Affecting more males than females, they are diagnosed in between one and three percent of the population.