ScienceDaily: Schizophrenia News

Psychiatric disorders linked to a protein involved in the formation of long-term memories

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:45:45 EDT

Scientists have discovered a protein that regulates synaptic ion channels that have been tied to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Neuroimaging may offer new way to diagnose bipolar disorder

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EDT

MRI may be an effective way to diagnose mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, according to experts.

Neurochemical traffic signals may open new avenues for the treatment of schizophrenia

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:02:02 EDT

Researchers have uncovered important clues about a biochemical pathway in the brain that may one day expand treatment options for schizophrenia.

Lead acts to trigger schizophrenia

Fri, 31 May 2013 11:47:47 EDT

Mice engineered with a human gene for schizophrenia and exposed to lead during early life exhibited behaviors and structural changes in their brains consistent with schizophrenia. Scientists say their findings suggest a synergistic effect between lead exposure and a genetic risk factor, and open an avenue to better understanding the complex gene-environment interactions that put people at risk for schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

Ketamine cousin rapidly lifts depression without side effects, study suggests

Thu, 30 May 2013 17:00:00 EDT

GLYX-13, a molecular cousin to ketamine, induces similar antidepressant results without the street drug side effects, reported a new study.

Scientists advance understanding of brain receptor; May help fight neurological disorders

Tue, 28 May 2013 18:10:10 EDT

Researchers have discovered important new properties in a common brain receptor that has been implicated in a wide range of neurological disorders. The discovery may help in the development of drugs to combat the disorders.

Family studies suggest rare genetic mutations team up to cause schizophrenia

Tue, 28 May 2013 10:52:52 EDT

Using a novel method of analyzing genetic variations in families, researchers have found that individually harmless genetic variations affecting related biochemical processes may team up to increase the risk of schizophrenia. They say their findings bring some clarity to the murky relationship between genetics and schizophrenia, and may lead to a genetic test that can predict which medications will be effective for individual patients.

Networks of neurons in brain are disrupted in psychiatric disease

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:18:18 EDT

Studying the networks of connections in the brains of people affected by schizophrenia, bipolar disease or depression has allowed researchers to gain a better understanding of the biological basis of these important diseases. They have shown that different networks, found specifically in humans, are disrupted in different psychiatric diseases.

Schizophrenia symptoms eliminated in animal model

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:31:31 EDT

Overexpression of a gene associated with schizophrenia causes classic symptoms of the disorder that are reversed when gene expression returns to normal, scientists report. They genetically engineered mice so they could turn up levels of neuregulin-1 to mimic high levels found in some patients then return levels to normal.

Now we know why old scizophrenia medicine works on antibiotics-resistant bacteria

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

An old medicine for schizophrenia is effective at treating something completely different than it was designed for: antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So far it has been a mystery how this old schizophrenia medicine works, but now researchers have figured it out. This can lead to a new medicine against the increasingly threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Faulty energy production in brain cells leads to disorders ranging from Parkinson's to intellectual disability

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Neuroscientists have shown for the first time that dysfunctional mitochondria in brain cells can lead to learning disabilities. The link between dysfunctional mitochondria and Parkinson's disease is known, but this new research shows that it is also present in other brain disorders.

Genetic risk for schizophrenia is connected to reduced IQ

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:53:53 EDT

The relationship between the heritable risk for schizophrenia and low intelligence (IQ) has not been clear. Schizophrenia is commonly associated with cognitive impairments that may cause functional disability. Researchers have now found that individuals with a higher genetic risk for schizophrenia had a lower IQ at age 70 but not at age 11.

Flu in pregnancy may quadruple child's risk for bipolar disorder

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Flu in pregnant mothers has been linked to a nearly fourfold increased risk that their child might develop bipolar disorder in adulthood. The findings add to mounting evidence of possible shared underlying causes and illness processes with schizophrenia, which some studies have also linked to prenatal exposure to influenza.

Dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain discovered

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:21 EDT

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists have discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.

Sniffing out schizophrenia

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:05:05 EDT

Scientists have developed an innovative method for diagnosing schizophrenia by collecting neural tissues from the nose. The finding could lead to early detection of the disease, giving rise to vastly improved treatment overall.

High levels of glutamate in brain may kick-start schizophrenia: Implications for early diagnosis and new treatment strategies

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:46:46 EDT

An excess of the brain neurotransmitter glutamate may cause a transition to psychosis in people who are at risk for schizophrenia. The findings suggest a potential diagnostic tool for identifying those at risk for schizophrenia and a possible glutamate-limiting treatment strategy to prevent or slow progression of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.

Ordinary skin cells morphed into functional brain cells

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:31:31 EDT

Researchers have discovered a technique that directly converts skin cells to the type of brain cells destroyed in patients with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other so-called myelin disorders.

Multiple genes robustly contribute to schizophrenia risk in replication study

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:35:35 EDT

Multiple genes contribute to risk for schizophrenia and appear to function in pathways related to transmission of signals in the brain and immunity, according to an international study.

Brain cell signal network genes linked to schizophrenia risk in families

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:02:02 EDT

New genetic factors predisposing to schizophrenia have been uncovered in five families with several affected relatives. These gene variants weaken NMDA receptors. Found throughout the brain, NMDA receptors normally influence the strength of brain cell connections and the ongoing remodeling of brain networks.

Urinary tract infections 29 times more likely in schizophrenia relapse

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Schizophrenia patients experiencing relapse are 29 times more likely than healthy individuals to have a urinary tract infection, researchers report.

Alterations in brain activity in children at risk of schizophrenia predate onset of symptoms

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:43:43 EDT

Research has shown that children at risk of developing schizophrenia have brains that function differently than those not at risk.

Primary care physicians missing early signs of serious mental illness

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:13:13 EDT

Primary care providers could help people with warning signs of psychosis get critical early treatment and potentially reduce the current burden on emergency departments and inpatient units, finds a new study.

Altered brain activity responsible for cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:59:59 EDT

Cognitive problems with memory and behavior experienced by individuals with schizophrenia are linked with changes in brain activity; however, it is difficult to test whether these changes are the underlying cause or consequence of these symptoms. By altering the brain activity in mice to mimic the activity seen in patients with schizophrenia, researchers reporting in the journal Neuron reveal that these changes in regional brain activity cause similar cognitive problems in otherwise normal mice.

The mysterious GRIN3A and the cause of schizophrenia

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:51:51 EDT

Since the 1960s, psychiatrists have been hunting for substances made by the body that might accumulate in abnormally high levels to produce the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. In particular, there was a search for chemicals that might be related to the hallucinogens phencyclidine (PCP) or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), which could explain the emergence of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. This "auto-intoxication" hypothesis led investigators on a wild goose chase where substances, including the "Pink Spot" and the "Frohman Factor", were isolated from people with schizophrenia and implicated in their illness, but these findings were later discredited. The mysterious GRIN3A is a new version of the hunt for an intrinsic mechanism that produces schizophrenia-like symptoms.

Neuron loss in schizophrenia and depression could be prevented, study suggests

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:55:55 EDT

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) deficits have been implicated in schizophrenia and depression. In schizophrenia, deficits have been particularly well-described for a subtype of GABA neuron, the parvalbumin fast-spiking interneurons. The activity of these neurons is critical for proper cognitive and emotional functioning. It now appears that parvalbumin neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, a factor that may emerge commonly in development, particularly in the context of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, where compromised mitochondrial function plays a role.

Tickling the brain with magnetic stimulation improves memory in schizophrenia

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:25:25 EDT

Cognitive impairments are disabling for individuals with schizophrenia, and no satisfactory treatments currently exist. These impairments affect a wide range of cognition, including memory, attention, verbal and motor skills, and IQ. They appear in the earliest stages of the disease and disrupt or even prevent normal day-to-day functioning. Scientists are exploring a variety of strategies to reduce these impairments including "exercising the brain" with specially designed computer games and medications that might improve the function of brain circuits.

Stroke risk in elderly treated with antipsychotics is newly linked to specific drug actions

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Antipsychotic administration in the elderly is associated with an increased risk for cerebrovascular accident, more commonly known as stroke; a new study provides additional insight into this important relationship.

Virus and genes involved in causation of schizophrenia

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:13:13 EST

For the first time, researchers have found that a combination of a particular virus in the mother and a specific gene variant in the child increases the risk of the child developing schizophrenia.

Folate and vitamin B12 reduce disabling schizophrenia symptoms in some patients

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:22:22 EST

Adding the dietary supplements folate and vitamin B12 to treatment with antipsychotic medication improved a core symptom component of schizophrenia in a study of more than 100 patients. The study focused on negative symptoms of schizophrenia -- which include apathy, social withdrawal, and a lack of emotional expressiveness. While the level of improvement across all participants was modest, results were more significant in individuals carrying specific variants in genes involved with folate metabolism.

Schizophrenia: A disorder of neurodevelopment and accelerated aging?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:42:42 EST

Many lines of evidence indicate that schizophrenia is a disorder of neurodevelopment. For example, genes implicated in the heritable risk for schizophrenia are also implicated in the development of nerve cells and their connections. Numerous findings in brain imaging studies describe the changes in brain structure and function associated with schizophrenia as emerging early in the course of the disorder. Some early brain imaging studies even found little or no evidence of progression of structural deficits. Yet, a new generation of studies now also describes degenerative processes in schizophrenia that resemble accelerated aging.

Single gene might explain dramatic differences among people with schizophrenia

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:07:07 EST

Some of the dramatic differences seen among patients with schizophrenia may be explained by a single gene that regulates a group of other schizophrenia risk genes.

New gene variant may explain psychotic features in bipolar disorder

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:07:07 EST

Researchers have found an explanation for why the level of kynurenic acid (KYNA) is higher in the brains of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disease with psychosis. The study identifies a gene variant associated with an increased production of KYNA.

Infection during pregnancy and stress in puberty play key role in development of schizophrenia

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:25:25 EST

The interplay between an infection during pregnancy and stress in puberty plays a key role in the development of schizophrenia, as behaviorists demonstrate in a mouse model. However, there is no need to panic.

IQ loss linked to schizophrenia genes, study finds

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:43:43 EST

People who are at greater genetic risk of schizophrenia are more likely to see a fall in IQ as they age, even if they do not develop the condition, according to new research.

Human cognition depends upon slow-firing neurons

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:34:34 EST

Good mental health and clear thinking depend upon our ability to store and manipulate thoughts on a sort of "mental sketch pad." In a new study, researchers describe the molecular basis of this ability -- the hallmark of human cognition -- and describe how a breakdown of the system contributes to diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.

Eye movements reveal reading impairments in schizophrenia

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:14:14 EST

A study of eye movements in schizophrenia patients provides new evidence of impaired reading fluency in individuals with the mental illness. The findings could open avenues to earlier detection and intervention for people with the illness.

Gene today, gone tomorrow: Genes for autism and schizophrenia only active in developing brains

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:22:22 EST

Genes linked to autism and schizophrenia are only switched on during the early stages of brain development, according to a new study in mice. This new study adds to the evidence that autism and schizophrenia are neurodevelopmental disorders, a term describing conditions that originate during early brain development.

Induction of mild inflammation leads to cognitive deficits related to schizophrenia

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:47:47 EST

Researchers have identified an exceptional mouse model of schizophrenia. After screening over 160 mutant mouse strains with a systematic battery of behavioral tests, they identified a mutant mouse lacking the Schnurri-2 protein that exhibits behavioral deficits and other brain features consistent with schizophrenia.

Brain activity study lends insight into schizophrenia

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:46:46 EST

Magnetic fields produced by the naturally occurring electrical currents in the brain could potentially be used as an objective test for schizophrenia and help to better understand the disease, according to new research.

Scientists learn more about how inhibitory brain cells get excited

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:16:16 EST

Scientists have found an early step in how the brain's inhibitory cells get excited.

Potential therapeutic target to treat autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:39:39 EST

Synapse development is promoted by a variety of cell adhesion molecules that connect neurons and organize synaptic proteins. Many of these adhesion molecules are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders; mutations in neuroligin and neurexin proteins, for example, are associated with autism and schizophrenia. A new study reveals that another family of proteins linked to these disorders regulates the function of neuroligins and neurexins in order to suppress the development of inhibitory synapses.

Stem cell research helps to identify origins of schizophrenia

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:24:24 EST

New research demonstrates how defects in an important neurological pathway in early development may be responsible for the onset of schizophrenia later in life.

Evidence mounts for role of mutated genes in development of schizophrenia

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:13:13 EST

Researchers have identified a rare gene mutation in a single family with a high rate of schizophrenia, adding to evidence that abnormal genes play a role in the development of the disease.

New findings on mortality of individuals with schizophrenia

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:33:33 EST

A new study shows that the average life expectancy of men and women with schizophrenia is 15 years and 12 years shorter respectively than for those who do not suffer from the disease.

Adolescent stress linked to severe adult mental illness, mouse study suggests

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:25:25 EST

Working with mice, researchers have established a link between elevated levels of a stress hormone in adolescence -- a critical time for brain development -- and genetic changes that, in young adulthood, cause severe mental illness in those predisposed to it.

Choline supplementation during pregnancy presents a new approach to schizophrenia prevention

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 19:02:02 EST

Choline, an essential nutrient similar to the B vitamin and found in foods such as liver, muscle meats, fish, nuts and eggs, when given as a dietary supplement in the last two trimesters of pregnancy and in early infancy, is showing a lower rate of physiological schizophrenic risk factors in infants 33 days old.

Schizophrenia linked to social inequality

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:27:27 EST

Higher rates of schizophrenia in urban areas can be attributed to increased deprivation, increased population density and an increase in inequality within a neighborhood, new research reveals.

New antidepressant acts very rapidly and is long lasting

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:46:46 EST

A first-of-its-kind antidepressant drug now tested on adults who have failed other antidepressant therapies has been shown to alleviate symptoms within hours, have good safety and produce positive effects that last for about seven days from a single dose. The novel therapeutic targets brain receptors responsible for learning and memory -- a very different approach from existing antidepressants. The new drug could be helpful in treating other neurological conditions.

In schizophrenia patients, auditory cues sound bigger problems

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:21:21 EST

Researchers have found that deficiencies in the neural processing of simple auditory tones can evolve into a cascade of dysfunctional information processing across wide swaths of the brain in patients with schizophrenia.

Changes in nerve cells may contribute to the development of mental illness

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:20:20 EST

Reduced production of myelin, a type of protective nerve fiber that is lost in diseases like multiple sclerosis, may also play a role in the development of mental illness, according to new research.

Four common antipsychotic drugs found to lack safety and effectiveness in older adults

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST

In older adults, antipsychotic drugs are commonly prescribed off-label for a number of disorders outside of their Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indications -- schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The largest number of antipsychotic prescriptions in older adults is for behavioral disturbances associated with dementia, some of which carry FDA warnings on prescription information for these drugs.

Could poor sleep contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:45:45 EST

Neuroscientists studying the link between poor sleep and schizophrenia have found that irregular sleep patterns and desynchronized brain activity during sleep could trigger some of the disease's symptoms. The findings suggest that these prolonged disturbances might be a cause and not just a consequence of the disorder's debilitating effects.

A risk gene for cannabis psychosis

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:39:39 EST

The ability of cannabis to produce psychosis has long been an important public health concern. This concern is growing in importance as there is emerging data that cannabis exposure during adolescence may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, a serious psychotic disorder. Further, with the advent of medical marijuana, a new group of people with uncertain psychosis risk may be exposed to cannabis.

Schizophrenia genetic networks identified; Connection to autism found

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:39:39 EST

Although schizophrenia is highly genetic in origin, the genes involved in the disorder have been difficult to identify. In the past few years, researchers have implicated several genes, but it is unclear how they act to produce the disorder. A new study identifies affected gene networks and provides insight into the molecular causes of the disease.

Cannabis use mimics cognitive weakness that can lead to schizophrenia, fMRI study finds

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:46:46 EDT

Researchers in Norway have found new support for their theory that cannabis use causes a temporary cognitive breakdown in non-psychotic individuals, leading to long-term psychosis. In an fMRI study, researchers found a different brain activity pattern in schizophrenia patients with previous cannabis use than in schizophrenic patients without prior cannabis use.

Use of antipsychotic drugs improves life expectancy for individuals with schizophrenia

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:31:31 EDT

Individuals with schizophrenia are significantly more likely to live longer if they take their antipsychotic drugs on schedule, avoid extremely high doses and also regularly see a mental health professional.

Inflammation and cognition in schizophrenia

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:30:30 EDT

There are a growing number of clues that immune and inflammatory mechanisms are important for the biology of schizophrenia. In a new study scientists explored the impact of the interleukin-1² gene (IL1²) on brain function alterations associated with schizophrenia.

Eye movements and the search for biomarkers for schizophrenia

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:18:18 EDT

There is a long history of research on impaired eye movements associated with schizophrenia. Using a series of simple viewing tests, researchers explored the ability of these eye movement tests to distinguish people with and without the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Using their complete dataset, they were able to develop a model that could discriminate all schizophrenia cases from healthy control subjects with an impressive 98.3% accuracy.

Are schizophrenia and autism close relations?

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:45:45 EDT

Medical researchers studied extensive genetic databases to discover that autism and schizophrenia had a genetic link, representing a heightened risk within families. People who have a schizophrenic sibling were 12 times more likely to have autism than those with no schizophrenia in the family.