Study Examines Potentials in Schizophrenia Treatments

As it can be a debilitating disease, scientists continue to research schizophrenia in the hopes of finding a cure or at least preventative measures to use in treatment. According to a recent Science Daily piece, researchers at UC Davis have found evidence that deficits in a brain chemical may be responsible for some of the debilitating cognitive deficits that accompany this disorder.

The study suggests that an important avenue of inquiry for improving cognitive function in those that suffer from this disorder is important, according to Jong H. Yoon, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UD Davis. Yoon was also the lead author on this study.

“We still know very little about the neurobiology of schizophrenia, particularly at the level of specific circuits and molecules and how their impairments affect behavior and cognition in the disease,” said Yoon. “We need this level of specificity to guide targeted treatment development.”

Abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality are the norm for those suffering with schizophrenia. These individuals may experience visual or auditory hallucinations, as well as paranoia, delusions and disorganized speech and thinking. At the same time, these individuals also experience profound cognitive difficulties that interfere with daily functioning.

“People think of schizophrenia as being related to psychosis. But patients’ cognitive limitations can be even more debilitating for them,” said Cameron Carter, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, director of the Imaging Research Center and the study’s senior author.

“This study actually looked at brain chemistry in live patients in relation to cognitive performance to determine the underlying neurobiology of the cognitive deficits. Our ultimate goal is discovering ways to help patients lead more productive lives.”

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Studies Examine Gene Impact in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia continues to be a puzzling disease and one that doctors cannot always effectively treat and scientists still don’t fully understand. A recent Science Daily release examined a report of two new studies in which researchers led by Johns Hopkins say they have identified the mechanisms rooted in anatomical brain abnormalities that could explain the onset of schizophrenia.

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Study Shows Drug Treatment May Reverse Onset of Schizophrenia

The onset of schizophrenia can drastically change a person’s life and to try and better treat the disease, researchers everywhere are trying to develop easier ways to predict the occurrence.

According to a Science Daily release, the prior existence of schizophrenia in the family is not enough to determine whether or not it will affect one individual. Prof. Ina Weiner of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Psychology noted that the developmental disorder can actually be triggered in the womb by infection, even though it usually manifests in early adulthood.

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Those with Schizophrenia More Likely to Encounter Criminal Justice System

A new study shows that people being treated for schizophrenia are more likely than the general population to have encounters with the criminal justice system in the US. The study, published in the open access journal BMC Psychiatry, has shown that schizophrenia patients’ involvement with the criminal justice system is primarily driven by their being victims of crime and that the average annual per-patient cost of involvement with the criminal justice system was $1,429.

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Epileptic Issues in Infancy Can Lead to Schizophrenia Later in Life

There are a number of different elements that must be tracked in order to protect the natural development of the brain. For those who are dealing with specific physical impairments at a young age, treatments and medications can significantly impact development.

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Researchers Identify Gene Deletion that Leads to Learning and Behavior Issues

When an individual has challenges in their learning and behavior, parents and doctors usually want to know why. Now, a consortium of researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine in a report said that the loss of a gene through deletion of genetic material on chromosome 15 is associated with significant abnormalities in learning and behavior. 

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Brain Defect Could Predict Onset of Schizophrenia

In the first functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study of its kind, neurologists and psychiatrists at Columbia University have identified an area of the brain involved in the earliest stages of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.

Activity in this specific region of the hippocampus may help predict the onset of the disease, offering opportunities for earlier diagnosis and for the development of drugs for schizophrenia prevention.

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Scientists Suggest Current Testing to Predict Schizophrenia Inaccurate

Testing for schizophrenia and bipolar disease may be dangerously inaccurate, according to scientists. A recent Reuters report on Health News suggests that as many as 30,000 different gene variations could underlie these diseases, making the predictability of these diseases very difficult to determine.

A multinational group of researchers examined the DNA of 10,000 people with schizophrenia and 20,000 without, and found 30,000 common gene variations linked with the mental illness. This research also highlighted just how complex these diseases really are.

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New Research Identifies Greater Hope for Schizophrenia Patients

While schizophrenia can often be the butt of tasteless jokes, in reality it is a devastating disease for victims and their families. While there is no biochemical test that can identify this disorder, scientists believe that it is caused by the interaction of both genetic and environmental factors.

A recent Science Daily piece recently examined the work of researchers at UCLA who have identified additional genes that confirm that the immune system may play a role in the development of the disorder. These researchers may also have identified genetic anomalies that disrupt the cellular pathways involved in brain development, memory and cognition, which are all markers of schizophrenia.

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Study Finds Better Ways to Treat Schizophrenia

Instance of schizophrenia have puzzled researchers for years as the causes and promising treatments have changed with better and more in-depth research. The latest findings in this area have implicated machinery that maintains the flow of potassium in cells and revealed a potential molecular target for new treatments.

Science Daily reported on an extensive series of experiments that suggested the selective inhibiting of this suspect form could help to correct disorganized activity that occurs in the brain of those suffering from schizophrenia. This treatment also removes the cardiac side effects associated with some existing anti-psychotic medications.

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