Articles tagged with Schizophrenia
A joint Australian-Indian study has identified a new genetic variation associated with schizophrenia, found in over 3000 individuals. The research highlights the importance of studying diverse populations to understand the complex causes of the disease.
A recent study found that the brain becomes desensitized to background motion, making it easier to distinguish smaller moving objects in the foreground. Older adults can improve their motion segregation abilities through visual training, narrowing the gap with younger counterparts.
Research from RIKEN Center for Brain Science found that betaine supplementation can counteract psychiatric symptoms in mice, including depressive behaviors and reduced oxidative stress. The study also identified a genetic variant predicting betaine's treatment efficacy, a potential example of precision medicine in psychiatry.
Researchers found abnormal proteins in brains of people with schizophrenia, similar to those seen in Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. These misfolded proteins affect nervous system development and neural communication, consistent with theories of schizophrenia's origins.
Researchers at UNIGE discovered that the development of the hippocampus, responsible for memory and emotions, is severely impacted in adolescence following the onset of psychotic symptoms. The study suggests that a 'second hit' later in development may determine further hippocampal atrophy and psychotic symptom emergence.
A Danish study reveals that patients with both schizophrenia and epilepsy are at risk of dying before the age of fifty. The study found a significantly higher mortality rate among this group, with 27.2% of those with both conditions passing away between ages 25-50.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that a broccoli sprout compound can restore the brain's glutamate balance, which is linked to schizophrenia. The study suggests that supplementing with sulforaphane, a compound found in broccoli sprouts, may reduce the need for traditional antipsychotic medications.
A newly discovered epigenetic hotspot in the genome may drive psychosis in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, potentially leading to new treatment targets and biomarkers. The hotspot affects dopamine production and synaptic development, which are critical regulators of brain function.
Research by the University of Saskatchewan found that exposure to inflammation during pregnancy alters brain development, predisposing offspring to psychiatric illness like schizophrenia. Young adult rats exposed to a simulated viral infection displayed abnormal behavior, reduced working memories, and altered fear responses.
A team of UC students used a novel approach called Network Assisted Genomic Association (NAGA) to identify schizophrenia genes from terabytes of data. The technique outperformed previously published methods and ran the analysis in under five minutes.
Research found that offspring born to couples married for less than three years have a 50% increase in risk for schizophrenia, while longer marriage duration is associated with a 14% reduction in risk. The study controlled for paternal age and psychiatric disorders.
A randomized controlled trial found that texting patients with schizophrenia improved medication adherence by 27%, reducing relapses and re-hospitalizations. The LEAN program, which combines lay health supporters and mobile texting, was effective in resource-poor settings.
A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice found that about half of patients referred to a specialized schizophrenia clinic were misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Anxiety and hearing voices were common reasons for incorrect diagnoses, highlighting the importance of second opinions from psychiatry specialists.
A team of scientists has identified 104 high-risk genes for schizophrenia, which may lead to the development of targeted treatments. The study's framework could also help track down genetic suspects in other complex diseases.
A study by SISSA investigated the decision-making processes of healthy subjects with sub-clinical psychotic episodes, finding alterations similar to those in schizophrenia patients. The research highlights reduced motivation, emotional dysregulation, and delusions as possible indicators of vulnerability to psychosis.
Researchers at The University of Queensland have created a new animal model of schizophrenia that specifically targets elevated dopamine levels in the dorsal striatum. This model enables scientists to test potential therapeutics and explore the basic changes in brain circuitry that contribute to the disease.
The study identifies 30 genes associated with schizophrenia, revealing their impact on brain structure and function. These findings could lead to new drug targets for the treatment of the disease.
A recent study found that advanced paternal age significantly increases the risk of early-onset schizophrenia in offspring, with a 30% higher risk for every 10-year delay. The association remains after accounting for parental predisposition to schizophrenia, suggesting an independent role of paternal age.
Researchers at Mount Sinai identified 413 genetic associations with schizophrenia across 13 brain regions, shedding light on the disease's mechanisms. Abnormal gene expression in specific brain areas contributes to increased risk of schizophrenia.
A Rutgers study found that clinicians are more likely to misdiagnose African-Americans with schizophrenia, overlooking depressive symptoms and emphasizing psychotic ones instead. The study suggests a need for screening major depression when assessing black patients for schizophrenia.
Researchers used C. elegans to investigate the importance of NDEL1 genes in treating schizophrenia. They found that suppressing these genes may be linked to resistance to certain antipsychotic drugs.
A case study by North Carolina State University researchers reveals that an adolescent diagnosed with rapid onset schizophrenia was actually infected with Bartonella henselae, leading to full recovery after treatment. The discovery suggests a potential link between bacterial infections and mental disorders.
Researchers at Cardiff University found that genetic neutropenia is a benign condition in people of African descent that can lead to lower neutrophil levels. This allows more individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia to receive the medication clozapine without risk of rare side effects.
Researchers found that nearly one-third of persons with schizophrenia had 'normal' wisdom scores, which correlated with fewer psychotic symptoms, improved cognitive performance, and enhanced everyday functioning. Assessing and enhancing wisdom may help improve the quality of life for individuals with schizophrenia.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that individuals with schizophrenia exhibit excessive synaptic pruning, a process normally occurring during adolescence. This abnormality contributes to the development of schizophrenia symptoms.
Schizophrenia's negative symptoms, including loss of motivation and social communication, are linked to a breakdown in brain network connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum. Non-invasive brain stimulation restored this network's function, improving symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
A genome-wide study found that copy number variants (CNVs) are more closely associated with a 'schizophrenia-like' bipolar disorder subtype than the broader form of bipolar disorder. This suggests a distinct mechanism underlying the biology of schizoaffective disorder, which shares symptoms with schizophrenia.
Research implicates genetic variants affecting NMDAR functioning as a risk factor for schizophrenia. Variants in four genes, including GRIN1 and GRIN2B, were found to be more common in people with schizophrenia.
Researchers from the University of Warwick have discovered a genetic mutation associated with higher risk for schizophrenia, which disrupts brain development and increases mental illness risk. A new pathway of genetic risk was found, providing possibilities for prevention and theoretical study before clinical symptoms emerge.
Researchers from UPV/EHU propose improvements to study cognitive function enhancers for patients with schizophrenia. The analysis of nine clinical trials reveals limitations and proposes methodological enhancements to guarantee effectiveness, safety, and tolerance.
A study by Orygen researchers found that B-vitamin supplements improved concentration skills among participants with first episode psychosis. The results suggest that individuals with elevated homocysteine levels may benefit most from these supplements.
Researchers found a significant association between schizophrenia and increased antibody levels against the Epstein-Barr virus. The study suggests that individuals with schizophrenia may be more susceptible to EBV infection due to an abnormal immune response.
Researchers found that individuals with schizophrenia have reduced bodily sensation across all emotions and don't differentiate between emotions on their body maps. This affects their ability to identify, recognize, and verbalize emotions or understand others.
Aerobic exercise shows promise in improving cognitive function and reducing weight gain in schizophrenia patients. Researchers are enrolling over 200 participants to test the effects of aerobic exercise versus a control group.
A study using a PET scan tracer has identified epigenetic differences between the brains of individuals with schizophrenia and those of unaffected participants. Reduced histone deacetylase (HDAC) levels were observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is important for executive functions affected by schizophrenia.
Recent PsychENCODE research provides a better understanding of brain development and neuropsychiatric risks, with critical expression differences in genes identified during early brain development and adolescence. The findings highlight the importance of studying specific cell types and time points in brain development to model disease...
Researchers have created a sophisticated genomic model that links DNA variations and gene activity to the risk of brain disorders. The model identifies 321 genes associated with schizophrenia, revealing its primary role as a disorder of neurons rather than other brain cells.
A study by researchers at the University of Queensland found that newborns with vitamin D deficiency had a 44% increased risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia as adults. Ensuring pregnant women have adequate levels of vitamin D may result in the prevention of some schizophrenia cases.
Researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Queensland found that newborns with vitamin D deficiency had a 44% increased risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia as adults. The study suggests that ensuring pregnant women have adequate levels of vitamin D may result in the prevention of some schizophrenia cases.
Researchers found that targeted cognitive training improved verbal learning and auditory perception scores in patients with severe schizophrenia. The treatment, which used computerized brain games to target specific neural pathways, was effective regardless of age, clinical symptoms, or medication duration.
Researchers are investigating the impact of prebiotics on immune system function in people with schizophrenia, focusing on the production of short chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate. The study aims to improve understanding of the brain-gut connection and potential treatments for cognitive impairments.
Researchers have developed two new mouse models to study schizophrenia and found that restoring ErbB4 receptors alleviates symptoms regardless of brain development. The study suggests a therapeutic approach focused on improving brain cell signaling associated with the ErbB4 receptor.
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry proposes a new classification system for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, moving away from the oversimplified two-category approach. This shift aims to improve treatment outcomes by providing more precise measures of symptom severity and guiding the development of targeted therapies.
Neuroscientists have identified a brain activity pattern that could predict the onset of schizophrenia. The study found abnormal connections in patients who later developed psychosis, which may help diagnose the disease earlier. Researchers are now exploring early interventions to combat symptoms and prevent psychiatric disorders.
Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research used genetic tests to predict patient response to antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia patients. They found higher polygenic risk scores were associated with reduced effectiveness of conventional treatment.
Researchers identified a link between MIR-137 and complex brain disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. Mice lacking MIR-137 displayed learning and memory deficits, repetitive behaviors, and impaired sociability, suggesting potential treatment targets.
Researchers found that females without schizophrenia used more complex brain regions to identify others' mental states, while men used less complex regions. Both groups with schizophrenia showed reduced complexity in brain processing, suggesting a potential link between olfaction and emotional processing.
Young adults exposed to cannabis during adolescence show altered brain structure and gene expression related to psychosis risk. The study suggests that adolescent cannabis use can induce long-term changes in brain cells and gene networks, potentially increasing psychiatric vulnerability.
Researchers have established an in vitro model of human neuron development to investigate the complex genetic origins of mental illnesses. The study found that changes in gene expression during neural development were significantly associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia.
Researchers found large differences in brain regions among individuals with schizophrenia, making it difficult to diagnose based on symptoms. The study highlights the need for individualized treatments and brain 'fingerprints' to improve patient outcomes.
A comprehensive review by the European Psychiatric Association recommends exercise as a key treatment for mental health conditions, reducing symptoms of depression and schizophrenia. The guidelines suggest structured exercise, two to three times a week, can improve cognition, cardiorespiratory health, and overall well-being.
Researchers at UNIGE successfully resynchronized neurons to correct desynchronization in neural networks, suppressing behavioral symptoms associated with schizophrenia. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, offers promising results for a new therapeutic approach targeting defective inhibitory neurons.
A study in Japanese patients found that common genetic variations, including copy number variations (CNVs), underlie both autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. The researchers identified 12 CNV loci associated with these disorders and observed an overlap of pathogenic CNVs between the two conditions.
Scientists have developed a way to visualize brain cells communicating through neurotransmitters, providing insight into conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and depression. The new lab technique enables the study of poorly understood neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, which affects memory, mood, and emotional regulation.
Researchers at Osaka University demonstrate a link between IQ decline and work outcome in patients with schizophrenia. The study provides a method for estimating probabilities of work outcome, promoting reintegration into society and treatment motivation.
A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that switching antipsychotic medications in patients with first-episode schizophrenia does not improve clinical outcomes. Instead, earlier treatment with clozapine, an effective antipsychotic medication, can be started earlier to potentially save time and reduce suffering.
A study found that long, noncoding stretches of DNA in a calcium transport gene may predispose individuals to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These 'hidden variants' could help identify patients at risk and tailor treatments.
Researchers study the impact of self-assessment accuracy on daily functions and treatment in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The goal is to generate empirical evidence about impaired self-awareness and its effects on functional ability.
Researchers found that sodium nitroprusside prevented behavioral alterations associated with schizophrenia in rats, suggesting a potential preventive treatment for young people at risk. The study used an animal model that mimics the condition in children and adolescents considered at risk for development of the disease in adulthood.
Researchers at the University of Alberta developed a machine-learning algorithm to analyze brain function images and predict schizophrenia diagnosis with 78% accuracy. The model also identified patients who would respond positively to antipsychotic treatment risperidone with 82% accuracy.