Articles tagged with Schizophrenia
Researchers have identified over 100 locations in the human genome associated with the risk of developing schizophrenia, pointing to genetic variations that make people vulnerable to psychiatric disease. The study's findings could lead to new approaches to treating the disorder and inform drug development for acute need.
Researchers identified previously unknown areas of genetic material linked to schizophrenia and found associations with immune system genes. The study suggests potential treatments for autoimmune disorders and provides new targets for drug development.
A multinational collaboration has identified over 100 locations in the human genome associated with schizophrenia risk, shedding light on biological mechanisms and pathways. The study could lead to new approaches to treating the disorder, which has seen little innovation in drug development for over 60 years.
A rare gene variant associated with a threefold risk of bipolar disorder, a two-to-three-fold increased risk of schizophrenia or alcohol dependence, and a threefold risk of developing the condition. The variant is found in approximately one in every 200 people.
A UK-led study has discovered over 100 genetic risk factors linked to schizophrenia, shedding light on the biological cause of the condition. The findings point to new biological mechanisms and pathways, including genes associated with schizophrenia being active in the immune system.
Researchers have discovered 108 genetic loci associated with schizophrenia, a significant increase from the 30 previously reported. The study suggests that these genetic variations may exert their effects by turning genes on or off rather than coding for proteins.
Researchers have identified over 100 genetic locations associated with schizophrenia risk, revealing biological pathways that could inform new treatment approaches. The study expands understanding of the disorder's genetic basis and underlying biology.
Researchers found a link between antipsychotic medication and reduced brain volume in schizophrenia patients, but no impact on cognitive function or symptoms over a nine-year follow-up. The study suggests that both older and newer antipsychotics may be associated with similar declines in brain volume.
Researchers found that schizophrenia patients exhibit altered brain activity in the ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex, leading to impaired ability to control working memory. This deficit is characterized by increased activation of irrelevant information, hindering cognitive function.
Researchers found that higher levels of C-reactive protein in maternal blood were significantly associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in offspring. The study suggests that pregnancy-related inflammation may play a role in the development of schizophrenia, providing new insights into its biological mechanisms.
A Johns Hopkins study finds that a gene deletion linked to schizophrenia alters brain cell skeletons, disrupting layer formation. Researchers also identify a crucial protein involved in building cellular skeletons, which may contribute to the condition.
Researchers describe a new strategy that pinpoints a genetic variant predisposing individuals to schizophrenia and reveals deficits in nerve development. The study uses induced pluripotent stem cells to identify CYFIP1 as a critical gene maintaining nerve cell structure.
A study by King's College London suggests that genes increasing schizophrenia risk also contribute to higher cannabis use. Individuals genetically predisposed to schizophrenia are more likely to use and consume cannabis in greater quantities.
Researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine will examine the role of kynurenic acid in schizophrenia, a devastating psychiatric disease affecting one percent of people worldwide. The study aims to uncover its potential linchpin role and develop new treatment interventions.
A Wayne State University study reveals that children genetically at risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder experience communication breakdowns in brain networks supporting attention. This dysfunction may amplify risk for psychiatric illnesses, highlighting potential premeditative intervention strategies.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified a disrupted brain circuit that may contribute to auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. The study, published in Science, suggests that reducing information flow between two brain structures involved in processing auditory information sets the stage for stress triggers.
A new study reveals that exposure to air pollution early in life can produce harmful changes in the brains of mice, including enlargement of the lateral ventricles seen in humans with autism and schizophrenia. The findings are consistent with recent studies showing a link between air pollution and autism in children.
Rates of adverse outcomes, including premature death and violent crime, in people with schizophrenia are increasing compared to the general population. Men and women with schizophrenia were eight times more likely to die prematurely than the general population.
A study sequencing the exome of 231 schizophrenia patients and their unaffected parents found that collective damage across several genes contributes to the disease. This discovery could lead to early detection and treatment strategies.
A study found no significant difference in effectiveness between long-acting injectable versions of second-generation and older antipsychotic medications. Participants taking paliperidone palmitate gained weight, while those taking haloperidol decanoate lost weight.
Researchers at the Salk Institute used stem cells to study neural function in people with schizophrenia, finding unusual activity in early developmental stages that may lead to diagnostic tests. The study suggests that events during pregnancy could contribute to the disease.
Dr. Peter F. Buckley, a psychiatrist and Dean of the Medical College of Georgia, has been awarded the Kempf Fund Award for Research Development in Psychobiological Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association. The award recognizes his contributions to understanding schizophrenia and improving treatments.
A decade-long study found that older adults with schizophrenia are twice as likely to receive a dementia diagnosis compared to those without the condition. However, they also experience higher rates of other serious illnesses and mortality rates, with a notable exception being lower cancer rates.
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry found that malfunctions in five genes - AUTS2, CDH8, MECP2, HUWE1, and TRAPPC9 - contribute to pathology in schizophrenia, autism, and intellectual disability. These genes play a crucial role in epigenetic regulation of transcription and may be essential for normal brain development.
Researchers analyzed proteins in rat brains after giving them hallucinogenic drugs, finding 352 proteins that respond to the drug and cause changes in behavior. These protein changes may be comparable to those in a schizophrenic brain, paving the way for new treatments.
A study by University of Chicago scientists found that genetic variants associated with enjoying the effects of amphetamine also reduce the risk for developing schizophrenia and ADHD. This suggests a complex role for dopamine in these diseases.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.