Schizophrenia News and Research

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Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating disorder which affects more than two million Americans, and millions more worldwide. While significant progress has been made in understanding the disease and developing treatments, there remains a significant unmet medical need. More than 50% of patients switch their medication in a given year due to either poor response or the experience of adverse events.

Study provides new insight into the genetics of severe schizophrenia

Columbia University researchers have determined that individuals who suffer from the most severe form of schizophrenia have a significantly higher number of rare mutations than more typical forms of the illness.

14 Dec 2021

Persistency allows value signals to be most effectively coded across different brain areas

In 2019 University of California San Diego researchers discovered the area of the brain where "value decisions" are made.

24 Nov 2021

Microbiome differences in autism reflect dietary preferences, says study

Earlier studies suggest that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might be partly due to differences in the gut microbiota composition.

15 Nov 2021

Study sheds light on how genes and air pollution elevate healthy people’s depression risk

A genetic predisposition for depression combined with exposure to high-particulate-matter air pollution greatly elevates the risk that healthy people will experience depression, according to a first-of-its-kind study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences from neuroscientists at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, on the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, and Peking University in Beijing, China.

9 Nov 2021

Genetic liability to mental health conditions may affect a person's choice of residence

Living in cities has been highlighted as an environmental risk factor for schizophrenia and, to a lesser extent, other mental health conditions. However, few studies have explored genetic effects on the choice of residence.

28 Oct 2021

Eating mushrooms may benefit a person's mental health, study reveals

Mushrooms have been making headlines due to their many health advantages. Not only do they lower one's risk of cancer and premature death, but new research led by Penn State College of Medicine also reveals that these superfoods may benefit a person's mental health.

From Penn State University 13 Oct 2021

Regulatory network impacting brain evolution found in “junk DNA,” says study

Human DNA has a close resemblance to that of the chimpanzee, which in evolutionary terms is the closest living relative of humans.

13 Oct 2021

Researchers discover that existing drug can enhance memory

A group of scientists identified that a prevailing drug for treating constipation might boost an individual’s capability to think with better clarity.

4 Oct 2021

Polygenic risk scores are no better in predicting disease, says study

Scientists went through the records of more than 8,000 schizophrenia patients and identified a tool used for assessing an individual’s genetic risk for a disease.

8 Sep 2021

UMSOM study suggests a genetic basis behind instantaneous human compatibility

Have you ever met someone you instantly liked, or at other times, someone who you knew immediately that you did not want to be friends with, although you did not know why?

2 Sep 2021

Study discovers link between corticosteroid receptors and hippocampal neuroplasticity, ciliary genes

Chronic stress is a well-known cause for mental health disorders. New research has moved a step forward in understanding how glucocorticoid hormones ('stress hormones') act upon the brain and what their function is.

9 Aug 2021

Study shows astrocytes induce sex differences during brain development

Scientists have found that when brain cells develop, they may find various ways to link with each other based on sex.

21 Jul 2021

Study reveals neurotransmitter releases impairments in schizophrenia patients

A research team revealed that neurotransmitter release in the brain is impaired in patients with schizophrenia who possess a rare, single-gene mutation.

16 Jul 2021

Lipidomics study reveals schizophrenic patients’ resistance to antipsychotic drugs

Scientists discovered 22 lipids in the blood plasma of schizophrenia patients that were linked to slower symptom improvement over time.

8 Jul 2021

Genetic treatment may provide a new approach to addressing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

For the first time, scientists have linked distinct patterns of genetic mutations with OCD in humans using genome-wide analysis.

29 Jun 2021

Scientists reveal key role of glial protein in building the brain

When we think of the brain, we think of neurons. But much of the brain is made of non-neuronal cells called glial cells, which help regulate brain development and function.

25 Jun 2021

Study shows how mitochondrial function impacts schizophrenia in patients with genetic disorder

Researchers have demonstrated how cell “batteries” play a significant role in whether patients with the chromosomal deletion syndrome acquire schizophrenia.

20 May 2021

Researchers identify overlapping genetic locations that shape face and the brain

An interdisciplinary team led by KU Leuven and Stanford has identified 76 overlapping genetic locations that shape both our face and our brain.

6 Apr 2021

Discovering a new genetic mutation in Schizophrenia

A new genetic mutation has been discovered in schizophrenia, and we spoke to Dr. Todd Lencz from the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research to find out more.

From Northwell Health 1 Apr 2021

Innovative computational model of cells could help better understand neurodevelopmental disorders

For a long time, researchers have attempted to gain better insights into the development of the cerebral cortex and its layers, since pathologies are associated with this process.

From University of Surrey 1 Apr 2021