Articles tagged with Schizophrenia
Researchers at Douglas Mental Health University Institute have discovered that dopamine is present in the hippocampus and plays a key role in this region. This finding opens up new avenues for understanding psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to improve symptoms.
Researchers have discovered an experimental anticancer compound that reverses schizophrenia-like behaviors and restores brain cell function in adolescent mice with a rodent version of the devastating mental illness. The compound, FRAX486, works by halting an out-of-control biological pruning process in the schizophrenic brain.
A comprehensive study found that contagious yawning decreases with age and is not strongly related to variables like empathy or energy levels. However, age was the most important predictor of contagious yawning, accounting for only 8% of variability in the response.
Researchers used brain-mapping techniques to study imitation in schizophrenia patients and found abnormal brain activity in areas associated with imitation. The findings suggest that individuals with schizophrenia may have a less specialized brain network for processing social information, leading to difficulties with social interactions.
Researchers discovered a specialized mechanism for spatial self-awareness that combines visual cues with body motion, triggering reactions before the conscious brain processes them. This 'visuomotor binding' mechanism is less prone to distractions and may be linked to schizophrenia symptoms and difficulties with prosthetic limbs.
A national survey found that people are more likely to disclose experiences of depression and early schizophrenia, with increased recognition of symptoms and reduced stigma. The study suggests that improved knowledge and beliefs about mental health problems contribute to the increase in willingness to disclose.
A randomized trial in India found that community-based care led by lay health workers was more effective than standard facility-based care in reducing disability and psychotic symptoms, with patients almost three times more likely to continue taking their antipsychotic medication. However, costs were higher in the intervention group.
Researchers demonstrate a clear causal effect of the mirror system on social understanding, finding that areas involved in action production also contribute to understanding others' actions. The study uses innovative magnetic stimulation techniques to reveal the brain's role in social cognition.
Research from Aarhus University finds that people with schizophrenia are at increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. Infections play a determining role in this association.
Researchers have found rare gene variants on chromosome 7 that substantially increase schizophrenia risk, up to 100 out of a 1000 chance. The study also reveals a link between these genes and other disorders such as autism and intellectual development.
A study published in Neuron reveals a connection between genes controlling neuronal excitability and working memory, psychiatric disease, and brain activity. The researchers identified a network of genes that plays a crucial role in human brain function, highlighting the importance of understanding its dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Researchers found that cognitive therapy reduced psychotic symptoms and improved personal and social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia who had stopped taking antipsychotics. The therapy involved reappraising psychotic experiences and modifying unhelpful thought patterns.
A new study found that mental health workers with more seniority and personal experience view people with mental illness in a more positive light. The research also linked advanced degrees and personal experiences of mental illness to positive attitudes.
A landmark study by researchers found that women with schizophrenia are nearly twice as likely to experience pre-eclampsia, pre-term birth, and other serious pregnancy and delivery complications. The study also revealed high birth weights, increased rates of hypertension and thromboembolic disease in pregnant women with schizophrenia.
Researchers have identified a subgroup of schizophrenia patients with motor disorders, characterized by low levels of A2A adenosine receptors in the basal ganglia. The study proposes a specific combination therapy involving antipsychotics and A2A agonists to reduce symptoms.
Researchers have identified specific proteins disrupted by genetic mutations in people with schizophrenia, offering a new understanding of the disorder. The study also found an overlap between schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and intellectual disability.
Two large-scale exome studies found a significant role for rare genetic mutations in schizophrenia, contrary to previous assumptions of few 'faulty' genes. The studies established the world's largest database on schizophrenia, providing valuable resources for biomedical research.
Two studies analyzed exomes of people with schizophrenia and healthy individuals, identifying patterns that suggest the disorder arises from combined effects of many genes. Genetic alterations tend to cluster in networks related to synaptic function, including calcium ion channels and cytoskeletal proteins.
Researchers used motion capture technology to study social interactions of patients with schizophrenia and found they were less likely to be spoken to in opening moments of conversations. The study's findings could help tackle social exclusion faced by people with the condition.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered two proteins that control the structure of chandelier cells, a type of inhibitory neuron important in epilepsy and schizophrenia. The study found that DOCK7 and ErbB4 regulate axonal projections, allowing one cell to block or modify hundreds of other cells.
Researchers discovered methylation sites linked to hypoxia, immune response, and neuronal differentiation in schizophrenia patients, offering potential avenues for distinct subtype identification and personalized treatment responses.
A 40-week treatment with varenicline resulted in abstinence rates three times higher than placebo, while cognitive behavioral therapy showed significant benefits. The study suggests that maintenance treatment may reduce tobacco dependence and smoking-related morbidity and mortality in individuals with serious mental illness.
A new NIH study reveals that individuals with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are more likely to engage in substance use, especially cigarette smoking. Protective factors typically associated with lower substance use rates do not exist in those with severe mental illness.
A study reveals that elevated LINE-1 retrotransposition in the brain may contribute to schizophrenia. Abnormal activity of these DNA sequences is thought to disrupt normal gene function, leading to the development of the disorder.
Researchers discovered reduced autophagy in schizophrenic patients' brains, which may lead to cell death. Boosting beclin 1 levels could restore balance and prevent harmful brain-cell death. ADNP levels were also found to be increased in the blood of schizophrenia patients.
Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered a genetic overlap between schizophrenia and general cognitive ability. This finding provides molecular confirmation of the overlap, revealing that patients with schizophrenia also experience reduced cognitive abilities.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that heavy marijuana users had abnormal changes in their brain structures related to working memory, performing poorly on memory tasks. The study suggests that chronic marijuana use may contribute to changes in brain structure associated with schizophrenia and potentially impair motivation.
Researchers from UdeM and the Institut universitaire en sante mentale de Montreal propose optimizing antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia patients by personalizing medication dosage and absorption, which can lead to improved efficacy.
A meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials found rTMS to be a safe and effective treatment for auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Active rTMS may cause headaches and facial muscle twitching, but has no significant impact on cognitive function.
Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered a new genetic risk factor called NDST3 for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This genetic variant alters the expression of the gene, affecting neurodevelopmental processes, offering potential therapeutic targets for treatment.
A new study published in SAGE Open found that people with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are more likely to be left-handed. The research team studied 107 individuals from a public outpatient psychiatric clinic and found that 40% of those with schizophrenia were left-handed, compared to 11% of those with mood disorders.
The study found metabolic abnormalities in hippocampal and thalamic neurons of rats with the Egr3 gene transfection, which may be useful for early diagnosis and pathogenesis of schizophrenia. These findings provide imaging evidence that could aid in understanding the disease.
A study found that left-handed individuals are more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, compared to mood disorders. The research revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of left-handedness among patients with different types of mental disorders.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a link between abnormal brain waves and schizophrenia symptoms in mice. The study found that mice lacking the brain protein calcineurin exhibit hyperactive brain-wave oscillations during rest and impaired mental replay, mirroring some schizophrenia symptoms.
Researchers at RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics have uncovered a faulty brain mechanism underlying schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders in humans. Mice genetically engineered to display symptoms of schizophrenia exhibit abnormal neural activity in the default mode network, which processes memories and recall.
Researchers have identified N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) as a potential therapeutic alternative for psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. NAC has been shown to reduce core symptoms of these conditions by boosting glutathione, reducing inflammation, and enhancing nerve cell growth proteins.
A large-scale genetics study is underway to investigate the genetic causes behind increased rates of schizophrenia and psychiatric disorders in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome patients. The four-year grant from the NIMH will advance understanding of this under-recognized neurogenetic condition and potentially inform new treatments.
A team of U-M neuroscientists reports that SIRP alpha plays a critical role in stabilizing the most active synaptic connections between brain cells. This finding may aid research on conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability, which are linked to abnormal synapse function.
Researchers identified key function of CYFP1 at synapses, orchestrating two biological processes to regulate brain cell connections. Poorly developed and dysfunctional synapses are linked to conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disabilities.
Researchers developed an Awareness Information Net (AIN) model to monitor patient behavior and spot problems, enabling timely intervention by carers, experts, and patients. The collaborative approach has the potential to raise awareness of schizophrenia in society, helping others cope with its consequences.
Researchers discovered abnormalities in both myelin and axons among patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a complex relationship between the two. The findings indicate that strategies targeting both axonal health and myelin synthesis may be needed to restore normal brain functioning in this condition.
Research suggests oxytocin could improve social cognition and reduce repetitive behaviors in patients with autism spectrum disorders. In schizophrenia, some studies have reported encouraging effects on severity and social cognition.
A University of Iowa study documents how schizophrenia impacts brain tissue and the effects of anti-psychotic drugs on those with relapses, revealing that medication can lead to lifelong brain damage, while longer psychosis periods are toxic to the brain.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio suggest that cell transplants could be a promising treatment for schizophrenia. By transplanting interneurons into the brain, they were able to restore normal function in rats with impaired dopamine systems, which are involved in cognition, movement, and emotions.
Researchers found similar disturbances in cortical circuit function between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with individuals with schizophrenia showing more severe abnormalities. The study suggests a continuous spectrum of circuit dysfunction across the disorders.
Tel Aviv University researchers used zoological methods to classify symptoms of OCD and schizophrenia in humans. The study found that schizo-OCD patients exhibited both OCD-like behavior and symptoms of schizophrenia, suggesting it's a combination of both disorders.
A new model system developed by Salk researchers completes the bridge between cellular and human studies of schizophrenia, enabling faster development of therapeutics. The model uses non-invasive scalp EEGs to detect brain activity, providing insights into sensory integration and neurotransmitter function.
A new genome-wide association study has identified two major pathways involved in causing schizophrenia, including a calcium channel pathway and a micro-RNA 137 pathway. The study, published in Nature Genetics, provides the strongest clues to date for understanding the causes of this debilitating mental illness.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a faulty 'switch' between brain regions that may cause psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia. The study suggests that detecting this disconnection could help identify patients with the condition, and potentially lead to more effective treatments.
Researchers have determined that five major mental illnesses are traceable to the same common inherited genetic variations, with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder showing the highest overlap. Common genetic variation accounted for 17-28% of risk for the illnesses.
A genetic alteration in the TOP3B gene has been identified as a risk factor for schizophrenia and intellectual impairment. The study reveals a common biological pathway between schizophrenia and Fragile X syndrome, which is associated with autism and learning difficulties.
A rare genetic deletion of the TOP3B gene has been identified as a common biological pathway for both schizophrenia and a learning disorder associated with autism, increasing susceptibility by two-fold. The study uncovers an important biological process underlying these brain disorders, potentially leading to new drug targets.
Researchers found a link between spontaneous mutations and impaired neurogenesis in the prefrontal cortex of people with schizophrenia. The study suggests that genetic damage can disrupt brain development and lead to early signs of the illness, such as impaired executive functions.
Researchers identified large rare changes in chromosome structure associated with schizophrenia, similar to those found in autism spectrum disorder. These findings suggest a potential role for clinical DNA testing in understanding the complex disease.
Researchers at Michigan State University found a link between the prefrontal cortex and learning and behavioral deficits in mice with mental illness genes. This study suggests targeting specific brain-behavior mechanisms may alleviate cognitive and motivational symptoms.
Research suggests negative symptoms of schizophrenia are associated with abnormalities in weighing effort cost versus reward value. Individuals with severe motivational problems tend to avoid higher-effort tasks for smaller rewards.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have found that high doses of famotidine can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and affect the histamine system in the brain. After four weeks of treatment, symptoms of schizophrenia decreased statistically significantly in patients who received famotidine.
A Yale team identified a key molecular mechanism underlying higher-order thinking, which is impaired in schizophrenia. The discovery of the alpha7 nicotinic receptor's role in cognitive function may lead to new treatments for cognitive disorders.
Researchers hope targeted mental workouts can sharpen memory and focus in adults with schizophrenia by taking advantage of brain's natural plasticity. The modules use a game-like approach to improve speed and accuracy of information processing.
Researchers found significant epigenetic changes in DNA methylation patterns related to immune function in people with and without schizophrenia. These changes were found to protect against delusion and hallucination symptoms in schizophrenia patients.