Articles tagged with Schizophrenia
Scientists used a mouse model to study nicotine's impact on brain cells involved in schizophrenia. Administering nicotine restored normal activity in prefrontal cortex neurons, similar to observed deficits in patients with psychiatric disorders.
Research at University of Colorado Boulder reveals nicotine reverses hypofrontality in mice with schizophrenic characteristics, suggesting novel non-addictive treatment option for 51 million people worldwide affected by the disease.
Scientists found that reduced TMEM108 protein expression leads to imprecise communication between neurons, contributing to schizophrenia-like symptoms. Adding AMPA receptor-boosting drug restored healthy spines in mice.
People with early schizophrenia are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. The researchers found that patients showed higher levels of fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance compared to healthy controls.
Researchers discovered that immigrant populations have altered brain chemistry, specifically higher levels of dopamine, which can increase the risk of schizophrenia. The study suggests that social stress is a key factor contributing to this increased risk, and targeted interventions may help mitigate it.
Research reveals that genes affecting social communication in children overlap with those for autism and schizophrenia, but influence risk differently at various stages of development. This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders and their relationship to social competence.
A new dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes a biological basis for the disorder, with dopamine signaling playing a key role in its development. The hypothesis has been revised numerous times since clinical observations first implicated dopamine decades ago.
A recent study from the University of Bristol found stronger evidence that schizophrenia risk predicts cannabis use, rather than the other way round. This suggests that people with schizophrenia may use cannabis as a form of self-medication to manage symptoms.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awarded $1.5 million NARSAD Distinguished Investigator grants to 15 scientists exploring innovative approaches to understanding and treating psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Researchers used MRI measurements to detect higher levels of oxidative stress in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy individuals and those with bipolar disorder. The study suggests that oxidation imbalance may contribute to the development and progression of schizophrenia.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center discovered that dysfunctional N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) brain receptors cause hearing deficits in schizophrenia. Patients who received training and administration of an amino acid, D-serine, significantly improved their ability to distinguish subtle differences in pitch.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified a small RNA that regulates the production of a protein targeted by antipsychotics, providing new clues for quieting the 'voices' of schizophrenia. The microRNA was linked to disruptions in brain circuits and age-related delays in symptom onset.
Researchers discovered eight locations in the genome with copy number variants associated with schizophrenia risk, affecting dozens of genes or disrupting single genes. These ultra-rare variants occurred more frequently in genes involved in synapse function and carried a four- to 60-fold increased risk for psychiatric illness.
Researchers found that impaired working memory and declarative memory are key neurocognitive functions affected in the high-risk, prodromal phase prior to psychosis onset. Interventions targeting these deficits may help mitigate schizophrenia's cognitive impairment and improve outcomes.
Researchers have discovered that schizophrenia-linked gene deletions alter the brain's ability of stem cells to differentiate into neurons and astrocytes. HiPSCs from patients with schizophrenia exhibit reduced neurogenesis and increased glial cell production compared to healthy controls.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation honored nine scientists with its 2016 Outstanding Achievement Prizes for their work in schizophrenia, mood disorders, child and adolescent psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. The award recognizes groundbreaking research that aims to improve the lives of people with mental illness.
Researchers at Wayne State University will use a new $3.2 million NIH grant to investigate impaired learning and memory in schizophrenia from the perspective of brain plasticity, function and network dynamics. The study aims to explore interventions that may normalize abnormal markers of the illness.
A large Danish cohort study found that substance abuse increases schizophrenia risk by 6 times, with specific associations for cannabis, alcohol, and other substances. The study suggests a complex relationship between schizophrenia and substance abuse, with second-hand exposure to cannabis linked to increased risk.
A study of 522 children found that those born to parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder scored higher on a behavior checklist and were at increased risk for anxiety, ADHD, and neurocognitive problems. The children also came from families with lower social status and more adverse life events.
UCLA scientists used a new technology to analyze DNA and found dozens of genes involved in the development of schizophrenia. The study provides important information on how the disorder originates and may lead to better treatments.
A new study published in Frontiers in Genetics finds a significant link between mental illness and genetic risk for substance involvement. The research suggests that individuals with a genetic predisposition to mental illness are also more likely to develop problematic usage patterns of licit and illicit substances.
A recent study found that parents who reproduce later in life are more likely to have children with autism disorders, while older mothers are associated with reduced risks. In contrast, advanced paternal ages were linked to increased risks of most autistic disorders in offspring.
A $15.4 million initiative co-led by Johns Hopkins and Salk aims to improve the quality of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology for studying mental health disorders. The project will use iPSCs from over 50 patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder to develop new diagnostic and drug discovery tools.
An international study has clarified which specific genes are affected by genetic variants associated with schizophrenia, providing a blueprint for researchers to tackle complex diseases.
Research from University of Manchester found that aerobic exercise training can significantly improve patients' brain functioning and reduce cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. The study showed that exercise programs combined with medication led to better outcomes in areas such as social understanding, attention spans, an...
A study found that individuals with smaller hippocampi are more likely to have a combination of genetic risk factors associated with an increased risk of psychosis. This discovery may lead to the development of personalized treatment strategies for schizophrenia.
The Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have created an interactive model of the brain's chemical balance to simulate major systemic changes in schizophrenia sufferers. This tool depicts chemical underpinnings in simple graphics, helping clinicians better understand the disease and test hypotheses virtually.
A recent study found that nearly 1 in 10 patients discharged from state psychiatric hospitals continue to take multiple antipsychotic drugs. The high rate of antipsychotic polypharmacy is attributed to a diagnosis of schizophrenia and extended hospital stays, highlighting the need for revised standards and definitions.
The study found that both aripiprazole and quetiapine were effective in improving symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly positive symptoms. However, aripiprazole demonstrated slightly better efficacy in general psychopathology and insight. No significant increase in extrapyramidal adverse effects was observed in either group.
A Swedish study found that trigger events like exposure to violence were linked to increased risk of violent crime among patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The study also revealed a higher risk for individuals without psychiatric diagnoses who experienced similar triggers.
A new clinical calculator assesses individual risk of psychosis after early warning signs of schizophrenia, such as hearing voices. Symptoms like unusual thought content and social functioning decline contribute significantly to the risk of developing psychosis.
A study by Nagoya University researchers reveals high levels of genetic heterogeneity and DNA instability in schizophrenia patients, suggesting a possible link between copy number variations (CNVs) on chromosomes 1, 15, 16, and 22 and disease mechanisms.
A new study led by Michigan State University scientist uncovers a clue to deciphering schizophrenia by examining neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA. Reduced levels of both neurotransmitters were found in schizophrenia patients and healthy relatives, but the relatives maintained normal GABA levels.
A recent imaging study found a subtle increase in brain tissue volume in certain regions of patients with schizophrenia, indicating the brain's ability to reorganize and fight the illness. The study suggests that despite severe damage, the brain may constantly attempt to rescue itself or limit the damage.
A study by Columbia University researchers found a strong association between smoking during pregnancy and an increased risk of schizophrenia in children. Heavy maternal nicotine exposure was associated with a 38% increased odds of schizophrenia.
Non-Hispanic blacks are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia as non-Hispanic whites, but they're significantly less likely to receive medication for treatment. The study found that racial-ethnic differences in diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric conditions were significant across 11 private healthcare delivery s...
Researchers found that individuals with schizophrenia have impaired ability to process visual and touch stimuli, leading to distorted perception of reality. The study's findings suggest a new way to identify the disease at an early stage, potentially allowing for earlier intervention.
A new study on lactose intolerance may provide insights into the origin of schizophrenia and other complex mental illnesses. Epigenetic factors that build up over time in individuals with genetic predisposition can lead to delayed onset of symptoms.
A Johns Hopkins study found that men with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have a higher rate of yeast infections than those without these disorders. Women with schizophrenia also performed worse on memory tests after testing positive for yeast infections.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Science University have identified a brain receptor that triggers synaptic pruning in the hippocampus during adolescence. This process is crucial for normal learning but goes awry in diseases such as autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers identified four previously unknown genetic conditions within schizophrenia, each with distinct symptoms and disease features. The study provides a framework for finding influential genes across complex genetic diseases, enabling more precise treatment design.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a computational model to discover new protein-protein interactions associated with schizophrenia. The study identified over 500 never-before-known PPIs, which could lead to greater understanding of the disease and its relation to other complex diseases.
A powerful genetic regulator, miR-9, has been identified as a risk factor for schizophrenia, controlling the activity of hundreds of genes involved in fetal brain development. The study, led by Kristen Brennand and Gang Fang, found that miR-9 was under-expressed in brains of schizophrenic patients, leading to miswiring of neurons.
Research reveals smoking addiction in schizophrenia is associated with higher neuronal activation of the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex, leading to low smoking cessation rates and increased health risks.
Researchers found that physical exercise significantly improves cognitive performance in individuals with schizophrenia, particularly in areas such as memory, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. The study suggests that early intervention and combined cognitive training with aerobic exercise may lead to long-lasting impr...
A new study has identified a pattern of brain activity linked to memory problems in people with schizophrenia. The findings provide evidence that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is compromised in patients with schizophrenia and may be a specific target for treatment.
Researchers at Drexel University found that a protein called TCF4, associated with schizophrenia and Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome, remains present in cells after neurogenesis and restricts synapse formation. This persistence may contribute to the development of these neurodevelopmental disorders.
Research suggests a significant overlap between genetic factors associated with schizophrenia and maternal age at first birth, with women having high genetic predisposition to schizophrenia tending to have children at an early or later age.
Researchers found larger globe pallidus volume in schizophrenia patients and specific leftward asymmetry for the region. Patients also showed smaller hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and accumbens volumes compared to healthy controls.
A Swedish study found that refugees are at three times higher risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychoses. Traumatic life experiences, including persecution and conflict, may contribute to this increased risk.
A study published in The BMJ found that refugees have a substantially higher risk of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. Refugees were up to 3.6 times more likely to develop psychosis than the Swedish-born population, with incidence rates of 1264 per million.
A peptide derived from collagen protein promotes the formation of neuronal synapses in the brain, potentially helping to treat schizophrenia. Collagen XIX-deficient mice display symptoms similar to those seen in humans with the disorder.
Emerging evidence on schizophrenia's development, prodromal characteristics, and long-term course provides reasons for optimism. New insights into neurobiology, early treatment, and more highlight key areas of progress toward understanding the complex disorder.
Researchers tested a low-dose dopamine-1 receptor agonist for treating cognitive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, but found no significant improvements. The study suggests that higher doses of the medication may be more effective in counteracting these symptoms.
A recent study suggests that immunotherapy can improve cognitive ability in patients with schizophrenia by suppressing inflammation. The study found significant improvements in cognitive function after just two doses of an immune-suppressing drug, tocilizumab.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows that genetic counseling is valuable for patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and similar conditions. Genetic counseling helps clarify misconceptions about the cause of psychiatric illnesses and reduces feelings of guilt and distress.
Researchers have successfully disrupted a genetic chain of events in a mouse model of schizophrenia and reversed memory deficits. The study used a chemical compound to regrow connections between brain cells, restoring memory deficits and showing potential for effective therapies.
A new study by the University of Toronto found that individuals with schizophrenia have a lifetime prevalence of 39.2% for suicide attempts, compared to 2.8% of those without the disorder. Those who experienced childhood physical abuse were five times more likely to attempt suicide.
Researchers at Georgia State University found no evidence of a genetic overlap between risk for schizophrenia and smaller subcortical brain volumes in a global study involving nearly 600 researchers. The study analyzed brain scans from almost 12,000 individuals worldwide to examine the genetic basis of schizophrenia.
A professor of psychiatry argues that schizophrenia should be replaced with 'psychosis spectrum syndrome' due to the complexity and heterogeneity of psychotic illness. The current classification system uses outdated language and may lead to misdiagnosis or overemphasis on this condition.