Articles tagged with Schizophrenia
A team from UNIGE demonstrates that a reduction in gamma wave activation is correlated with the emergence of psychotic symptoms in children and adolescents at genetic risk. This study makes it possible to envisage an early diagnosis and identifies potential therapeutic targets for treating schizophrenia.
A CAMH-led study found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) reduced self-reported cannabis use by up to 60% among people with schizophrenia and CUD. The treatment was associated with reduced cravings and improved quality of life.
A genetic study identified an AKR1A1 variant associated with schizophrenia that leads to exon skipping and loss of enzymatic activity. The c.753G>A and c.264delC variants were found in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a potential molecular mechanism behind GlucA accumulation.
Researchers have identified a specific location in the hippocampus called the dentate gyrus where schizophrenia may originate. Studying rats with damaged SAP97, they found changes in activity in this region, directly linking alterations to the development of schizophrenia.
Researchers at Lancaster University have identified a genetic change that impacts insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in the brain, which may lead to effective drug treatments for autism. The study found that individuals with a specific DNA deletion are more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
A study found that rapid weight gain from antipsychotic medications can contribute to loss of agency, hope, and social withdrawal. Understanding this psychological journey may offer new targets for weight loss treatments.
A new study uses stem cells to predict schizophrenia symptoms, opening the door to personalized medicine. The researchers found that neurons derived from patients' own stem cells predicted psychosis and cognitive deficits with high accuracy.
Researchers found that sleep deprivation can significantly increase serotonin 2A receptors in the brain within hours, which may influence schizophrenia symptoms. This discovery suggests environmental stressors could alter the balance of brain receptors controlled by antipsychotic drugs.
Scientists have discovered recently evolved regions in the 'dark genome' that code for proteins associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These protein biomarkers could help distinguish between the two conditions and identify patients at risk of psychosis or suicide.
Researchers found that astrocytes regulate cognitive flexibility by releasing D-serine and glutamate, which integrates synaptic plasticity. Heterosynaptic long-term depression is mediated by astrocytes, critical for memory modification.
A study reveals that blood biomarkers miR-137 and COX6A2 can distinguish between clinical sub-groups of patients with schizophrenia, offering a new tool for stratifying individuals and tailoring treatment. The discovery also highlights the critical role of oxidative stress in schizophrenia's heterogeneity.
Researchers grew 'mini-brains' from stem cells of patients with and without schizophrenia, finding reduced gene expression in patient samples that stymied brain cell development. Replacing the missing genes restored normal brain cell production, suggesting a potential target for therapy.
Researchers have found that individuals with extremely treatment-resistant schizophrenia carry a higher burden of rare, damaging genetic variants than those with typical schizophrenia. This study suggests that focusing on patients with severe forms of the illness could improve the detection of disease-associated genetic variants.
A Geisinger study found that adults with rare genetic causes of mental health disorders are more likely to have chronic illnesses like diabetes and dementia. The research also discovered that these individuals had twice as many annual emergency room visits compared to a control group without the genetic conditions.
Vanderbilt researchers discover how a protein may treat schizophrenia, including reversing working memory deficits. Enhancing the activity of mGlu1 selectively increases the activity of specific inhibitory interneurons, restoring their ability to inhibit neuronal circuits.
People with schizophrenia struggle to regulate their emotions as negative feelings intensify, unlike healthy individuals who employ coping strategies at higher emotional states. Researchers found that those with schizophrenia tend to be less likely to engage in emotion regulation efforts when emotions are extremely high.
Researchers at Salk Institute discovered that neurons deep in the brain's cortex process information from borders first, then send clues back to upstream areas. This supports the importance of the 'feedback' pathway for deciphering borders.
A large-scale study of over 3,100 ECT sessions found no cases of permanent impairment, only three life-threatening events that were resolved with medical interventions. The researchers argue that ECT should be used in controlled settings by experienced teams to benefit more patients.
A study of 2.5 million people found lower COVID-19 infection rates among those with schizophrenia and mood disorders, but higher death rates. The analysis suggests that underlying mental health conditions may impact COVID-19 outcomes.
Researchers have identified thousands of novel brain-expressed gene isoforms, revealing a complex web of protein production in the brain. The study suggests that genes expressed in the brain may produce far more proteins than previously thought, with potential implications for diseases such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.
Researchers at the University of Leicester created novel body-maps of hallucinations, documenting feelings and sensations in the body during psychosis. These maps revealed recurrent concentrations of feelings like pain, heat, or tension in specific body areas.
The Human Brain Project unveiled its 8th annual Summit with presentations of new scientific insights and technologies. The project has developed a powerful new infrastructure called EBRAINS, which will serve generations of brain scientists.
Researchers found that selecting the embryo with the lowest predicted risk score reduces disease risk more effectively than eliminating high-scoring embryos. However, polygenic embryo screening offers no guarantees about a baby's health and has limited effectiveness depending on factors like ancestry and age.
Researchers found that a balance between dopamine D2 receptors and RGS is crucial for normal long-term memory formation. An imbalance in these molecules is thought to contribute to the development of schizophrenia and dystonia.
Researchers investigated whether allergic diseases cause mental health conditions, finding little evidence of a causal relationship. The study used Mendelian Randomisation to identify genetic variants linked to allergies and mental health, but found no associations between the two.
A computational framework will be developed to characterize how genetic variants work at the cellular level in psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The framework aims to integrate data from live and postmortem samples, humans and mice, to accurately pinpoint which mutations result in disorders.
Scientists have developed an improved technique to trace brain connections between neurons in zebrafish using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), enabling the visualization of connected neurons up to five days after infection. This breakthrough could provide insights into brain network connectivity repair after injury or disease.
The American Psychiatric Association journals feature research on the mental health of community college students, diabetes, depression, and schizophrenia treatment. The findings extend and validate previous studies relevant to clinical psychiatry.
A new study found that schizophrenia is associated with a loss of excitation but an increase in inhibition, resulting in hallucinations. The researchers used EEG data from 107 participants to demonstrate decreased synaptic gain, which may guide pharmacological and neurostimulation treatments.
A common blood test could identify patients with schizophrenia at high risk for cardiovascular disease, enabling early intervention. Elevated white blood cell counts are suspected to be a signal, and a large-scale analysis of over 20,000 patients will examine its associations.
A Bristol-led research team has identified specific receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that re-route information flowing through memory circuits in the hippocampus. The discovery holds promise for developing new, safer treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
A Mount Sinai study found that polygenic risk scores were no better at predicting worsening symptoms than written reports in schizophrenia patients. The results raise questions about the use of polygenic risk scores in real-world situations, suggesting a doctor's report may be an untapped source of predictive information.
A study of 277 drug-naive adolescents found a link between fingertip advanced glycation end products and the trajectory of psychotic symptoms. Baseline levels of these compounds predicted the risk of persistent psychotic symptoms, suggesting their involvement in the pathophysiology of early psychosis.
Researchers from Okayama University conducted a randomized trial to assess the benefits of interventions for early cancer screening in patients with schizophrenia. The study found that 47.1% of counseled patients underwent colorectal cancer screening, compared to 11.8% of those receiving only usual treatment.
A study found that plasma pentosidine levels, a marker of advanced glycation end products, were significantly associated with impaired processing speed in schizophrenia patients. The results suggest that reducing AGEs may contribute to improving cognitive function and promoting recovery in patients with schizophrenia.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine developed a machine learning algorithm that analyzes DNA methylation patterns in blood samples to identify individuals with schizophrenia. The study achieved an 80% accuracy rate and identified epigenetic markers that differ between people diagnosed with the condition and those without it.
Researchers have discovered the amygdala's role in pre-attentive mechanisms, shedding light on its connection to schizophrenia and other disorders. The study found that activating brain stem inhibitory neurons via the amygdala is crucial for startle inhibition.
Scientists have discovered a protein biomarker in blood that could help diagnose schizophrenia at an early age. The study found high levels of active CRMP2 protein, which is uniquely imbalanced in people diagnosed with the condition.
Researchers at the University of Otago have created a new animal model that can accurately simulate psychosis in rats. This breakthrough finding opens up new possibilities for understanding brain mechanisms and developing more effective treatments for schizophrenia.
Researchers found impaired neurotransmitter release and synaptic signaling in human-derived neurons from patients with schizophrenia and a rare genetic mutation. This discovery provides insight into the cellular pathways perturbed in schizophrenia and offers a lead for studying this biology.
A study by CU researchers found that choline deficiency in Black pregnant women is linked to increased risk of developmental and behavioral issues in their children's later lives. The research also highlights healthcare disparities in caring for Black mothers and their children in the US.
Researchers have found 22 lipids linked to lower symptom improvement in people with schizophrenia during treatment. The study's findings suggest a complex interplay between metabolic abnormalities and psychiatric health, highlighting the potential of lipidomics as a promising field for new discoveries.
Research found that mice with impaired methylglyoxal detoxification systems exhibited schizophrenia-like behavioral abnormalities, including social interaction and cognitive memory impairments. Low levels of vitamin B6 were also observed in mice and patients with schizophrenia.
Neuroscientists at UCL have identified abnormalities in the way memories are 'replayed' in the brains of people with schizophrenia. The study found that individuals with schizophrenia were less able to build a structure of the task, with impaired neural replay linked to their symptoms.
Researchers found significant correlations between brain capillary curvature and neurite thickness radius in schizophrenia patients, but not between capillary diameter and neurite thickness. The study suggests neurovascular abnormalities contribute to schizophrenia.
A recent study has found a possible link between prostate cancer and schizophrenia, with certain gene polymorphisms correlated to disease prognosis. Polymorphisms in genes controlling neurotransmitter metabolism were studied in patients with prostate cancer, revealing a potential protective effect against schizophrenia-like symptoms.
A study using protein mapping reveals that abnormal glutamate levels in the brains of schizophrenic patients can lead to oxidative stress and apoptosis in neurons, while oligodendrocytes display different responses. This knowledge may contribute to the development of more targeted treatments for schizophrenia.
A new study from Columbia University found that young adults with schizophrenia have the highest suicide risk and those aged 65 and older have the lowest. People with schizophrenia overall have a 4.5-fold increased risk of dying from suicide.
A study found that Vitamin B6 deficiency is associated with social deficits, cognitive impairment, and hyperactivated noradrenergic systems in mice. Supplementing the brain with Vitamin B6 improved these abnormalities, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for schizophrenia patients with Vitamin B6 deficiency.
A new study successfully treated flies displaying behavioral problems linked to schizophrenia-associated genes using common anti-psychotics. The research identified two key genes, Rim and CACNA1A/CACNA1B, which are involved in neurotransmitter release and electrical signaling in neurons.
Researchers discovered that mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to schizophrenia in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, who are 25 times more likely to develop the condition. Increased mitochondrial biogenesis is associated with the absence of schizophrenia.
Research finds that medications commonly prescribed for schizophrenia may worsen brain functioning, particularly among patients taking multiple psychotropic drugs. A study of 1,120 participants with schizophrenia found that 63% had an anticholinergic cognitive burden score of at least 3.
Researchers used genetic engineering tools to create a virus that can enter specific neurons and insert new genetic code, inducing modified protein production. In mice tests, the alteration was sufficient to modify brain activity, indicating potential biomarker for psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and autism.
A new study from Aarhus University finds that almost half of parents with children to a parent with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder also meet the criteria for a mental disorder. This can impact family life and child development. The study suggests increased attention is needed for these families, with specialized efforts recommended.
A study by Penn researchers found that people with schizophrenia have a compromised blood-brain barrier, allowing the immune system to improperly influence the central nervous system. This inflammation contributes to the condition's symptoms. The findings may also apply to other mental disorders.
A simple dietary supplement betaine reduces behavioral symptoms in mice with a genetic mutation that causes schizophrenia. Betaine supplements likely protect proteins that build neurons' cellular skeletons, restoring healthy structures.
A new study published in Translational Psychiatry reveals that individuals with high genetic predisposition to schizophrenia are disproportionately affected by cannabis use, experiencing a 60% higher risk of psychotic experiences. Cannabis users, compared to non-users, have higher rates of psychotic experiences across the board.
A pilot study from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found evidence of Bartonella infection in the blood of people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The study suggests a potential link between Bartonella infection and neuropsychiatric disease, particularly schizophrenia.
A multinational study of nearly 200,000 people found significant sex-dependent differences in the genetics of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorders. The findings suggest that interactions between genes and sex may affect disease risk and progression.
Researchers found that people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression are more likely to die within 30 days and one year after a heart attack. The study highlights chronic health inequalities faced by those with serious mental illness and calls for urgent action to address disparities.