Articles tagged with Schizophrenia
Researchers found that abnormalities in the brain's blood-brain barrier may play a critical role in schizophrenia development. This discovery could lead to novel treatment strategies targeting abnormal brain blood vessels, complementing existing treatments.
A large twin study suggests that genetic factors contribute to nearly 80% of schizophrenia risk. Researchers used a new statistical approach to estimate heritability and found a similar result when considering related disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum.
A genetic variant associated with multiple psychiatric disorders is linked to changes in a brain network that may increase an individual's risk of developing bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The variant affects the expression of the SNAP25 protein, impacting information processing between brain regions involved in regulating emotions.
A study by University of Maryland School Medicine researchers found that elevated kynurenine levels disrupt sleep, leading to cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. The discovery could lead to new treatments targeting kynurenine's role in the disease.
A recent study identified a gene associated with schizophrenia risk that plays a critical role in early brain development. The gene, ZNF804A, regulates essential processes such as protein translation and neuronal migration. Understanding its function could lead to more effective treatments for the disorder.
A large Ontario study found people with schizophrenia died 8 years earlier than the general population, with a 35% decrease in death rates. The high mortality risk is attributed to factors such as limited access to healthcare and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
A new Ontario study found that people with schizophrenia are dying younger due to poorer physical health care over their lifespan. The study showed that individuals with schizophrenia had higher rates of death from cardiovascular diseases and chronic medical conditions.
Researchers have developed a 20-minute test to assess cognitive capacities of patients with schizophrenia, including short-term memory and organisational skills. The test, known as EPICOG-SCH, allows for improved daily functioning and can be easily administered by healthcare professionals.
A recent study found a 37% increase in the gap between the average lifespan of people with schizophrenia and the general population. Longitudinal studies suggest that this widening trend is due to factors such as inadequate healthcare, unhealthy lifestyles, and biological aging.
A new paper defines 50 term pairs in psychology, including envy/jealousy and disease/illness, to improve psychological literacy. The list helps distinguish between related concepts, such as punishment vs. negative reinforcement, antisocial vs. asocial behavior.
Researchers at Osaka University discovered a rare genetic variant, RTN4R, that may play a fundamental role in schizophrenia. This finding supports the hypothesis that myelin-related genes are associated with the disease.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute discovered that prenatal lack of DHA and AA fatty acids can lead to offspring developing schizophrenic-like symptoms as adults. The study found epigenetic changes in gene expression, affecting nuclear receptor genes and oligodendrocyte-related genes, which may be traced back to DNA methylation.
A long-term study on schizophrenia patients found that low cumulative exposure to benzodiazepine and antidepressant medications has no significant effect on cognition. However, high-dose use of antipsychotic drugs was associated with poorer cognitive functioning, while a break in treatment was linked to better outcomes.
A study associates schizophrenia with defective processing of messenger RNA in cells, suggesting a link between the spliceosome complex and brain dysfunctions. The researchers found altered proteins in two brain regions, including those involved in calcium-mediated signaling and myelination.
Researchers have identified a specific brain area involved in 'hearing voices' in schizophrenia and found that targeting it with high-frequency magnetic pulses can improve symptoms. In a controlled trial, 34.6% of patients showed significant response to treatment, while only 9.1% of controls did.
A new study in mice has found that disruptions to the brain's center for spatial navigation, known as internal GPS, result in severe memory deficits seen in schizophrenia. This discovery offers promising avenues for drug intervention and treatment, targeting a near-universal symptom of the disorder.
Researchers discovered a single amino acid switch in the CX3CR1 receptor as a potential marker for predicting schizophrenia and autism. The variant affects microglia function and could lead to predictive diagnostics, offering new hope for asymptomatic patient screening.
The Blink Reflexometer device detects changes in blinking patterns to identify concussions and neurological disorders like Parkinson's, Huntington's, and schizophrenia. The technology aims to provide a portable, rugged, and fast aid for trainers to make objective calls about player safety.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding that an amino acid called methionine may play a crucial role in the development of schizophrenia. Excess methionine during pregnancy has been shown to alter fetal brain development, leading to changes in gene expression and potentially life-long consequences.
A study by the University of Manchester found that a pharmacy service, launched in 2011, improves patient medicine adherence and translates to increased health gain at reduced overall cost. The New Medicine Service has saved NHS England £517.6m in its first five years.
A study by EPFL scientists found that schizophrenia patients do not have a disturbed sense of body ownership. The study used the Full-Body Illusion test and showed that patients performed similarly to healthy controls, indicating that their sense of body ownership is unaffected by the disorder.
Researchers at King's College London found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improved cognitive performance, particularly in working memory and executive functioning, in individuals with schizophrenia. The study suggests that tDCS may be a promising new treatment for the condition's cognitive deficits.
New study finds that human brain cells from individuals with childhood-onset schizophrenia disrupt communication in mice, exhibiting anti-social and anxious behaviors. The researchers suggest that glial cell dysfunction is a primary contributor to the disease.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that genetic defects in glial cells may lead to schizophrenia by impairing myelin production and neural network formation. The research uses mouse models with human glial cells to demonstrate the defective glial cells' role in brain disorders.
A new study found that people carrying certain genetic alterations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders may experience impaired cognition, despite not developing a disorder. The research provides valuable insights into the effects of these genetic abnormalities on cognition in adults from the general population.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that chandelier cells, a type of inhibitory nerve cell, are unaltered in schizophrenia patients, challenging prior findings of GABA deficits. The researchers suspect a developmental origin for the abnormality, which could have implications for treating brain disorders.
A nationwide study in Sweden found that specific antipsychotic agents and routes of administration impact the risk of rehospitalization and treatment failure among patients with schizophrenia. The research highlights the need for personalized treatment approaches to optimize patient outcomes.
A UCLA study found that people with a 22q deletion have thicker gray matter but less brain surface area compared to those with a duplication. In contrast, those with 22q duplications have thinner gray matter and larger brain surface areas, suggesting differences in social functioning regions.
Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam identified 52 genes associated with intelligence, including 40 previously unknown discoveries. The study reveals a correlation between genetic influences on intelligence and educational attainment, as well as traits like autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
Neuroscientists at Tufts University have discovered a new signaling pathway that connects two major receptors in the brain associated with learning and memory. Astrocytes play a key role in regulating this pathway by sensing wakefulness and releasing chemicals that activate these receptors.
A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers links cannabis use in adolescence to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. The research found that psychoactive compound THC triggers brain defects associated with the disorder in genetically susceptible individuals.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that valbenazine can significantly reduce tardive dyskinesia symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mood disorder. The medication showed a 50% improvement rate compared to the placebo group.
Researchers found that Candida yeast infections contribute to bowel difficulties in men with schizophrenia. Probiotics also decreased delusions and hallucinations in participants without a history of yeast infections. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and determine their effectiveness for women with schizophrenia.
Researchers at Columbia University found that haphazard neural activity in mice with schizophrenia symptoms may underlie the disease. The study suggests that disruptions in small networks of neurons could produce characteristic psychosis symptoms.
A balance test that stimulates part of the brain with cold water has shown promising results in improving insight into illness in people with schizophrenia. The study found that cold water in one ear increased patients' awareness and insight into their condition, while cold water in the other ear worsened it.
A study of veterans with schizophrenia found that only 23% drank any alcohol in the past 30 days, but those who misused alcohol experienced worsening symptoms. The findings suggest there is no safe level of alcohol use for people with schizophrenia.
A study from the University of Iowa Health Care found that cerebellar stimulation in rats with schizophrenia-like thinking problems restored normal brain activity in the frontal cortex and corrected timing deficits. The researchers used optogenetics to stimulate the rats' cerebellar region, which led to improved cognitive function.
Researchers at Emory University are studying the 3q29 deletion syndrome, a genetic mutation associated with a 40-fold increased risk for schizophrenia. They will create a neuronal model of the syndrome using induced pluripotent stem cells and integrate their research with other targets identified in genetic studies.
Researchers analyzed genetic profiles of nearly 13,000 ALS/MND cases and over 30,000 schizophrenia cases, confirming that many associated genes are the same. The study reveals a 14% overlap in genetic susceptibility between the two conditions.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that patients with schizophrenia have lower levels of the neurotransmitter GABA and altered immune cell function. These findings provide new clues to the disease mechanisms of schizophrenia, but follow-up studies are needed to determine if these changes are causes or effects.
Researchers have identified a new way to distinguish between schizophrenia and depression using proteins in nerve cells. The method measures the level of hormone arginine-vasopressin (AVP) released in response to salt solution, which can indicate NMDA receptor signalling. This test may lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses, as we...
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered a common genomic pathway that may be responsible for schizophrenia. By studying skin cells from four adults with schizophrenia, they found a dysregulated gene program that affects over 1,000 genes and can lead to the development of the disease.
Researchers identified sections of DNA associated with altered gene expression in schizophrenia, pointing to alternative splicing as a contributing mechanism. The study found four disease susceptibility genes impacted through splicing regulation, including NEK4 and FXR1.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh found a potential inverse relationship between schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis, with eight genes showing opposing effects on risk. The study suggests that immune system dysfunction may play a role in both disorders.
Researchers found that Neanderthal DNA sequences still influence human gene expression, contributing to traits such as height and susceptibility to schizophrenia or lupus. The study used the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project dataset and analyzed RNA sequences in 52 different tissues.
A Swedish study found that insufficient weight gain during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of nonaffective psychosis, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, in children. The study of 526,042 individuals born between 1982 and 1989 found that mothers who experienced extremely inadequate gestational weight gain were more l...
A review of worldwide studies found that high-dose B-vitamins significantly reduce schizophrenia symptoms. The research suggests that B vitamins are most beneficial when implemented early on and used with higher dosages or combined several vitamins.
Researchers from the University of Maryland have developed a blood test that can help doctors diagnose schizophrenia more quickly. The test measures oxidative stress in blood samples, which may be linked to the disorder and its treatment response.
A new study by University of Maryland School Medicine researchers found adjusting kynurenic acid levels can reduce schizophrenia-like behavior in mice. Higher KYNA levels are associated with cognitive problems and reduced glutamate signaling in people with schizophrenia.
A new study has developed a mirror game test using computer avatars to accurately detect specific variations in patient movement and social interaction, showing comparable results to clinical interviews and neuroimaging methods. The test may provide an affordable and effective device for early diagnosis and management of schizophrenia.
A new study reveals that non-severe infections can significantly increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and depression. The research found a dose-response correlation between the number of infections and the risk of mental disorders, suggesting that even minor infections can have severe consequences.
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 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.
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.