New research examines the brains of people with schizophrenia and finds disrupted patterns of expression in genes linked with sleep-wake cycles. New research into schizophrenia finds disruptions in the rhythmicity with which some genes are expressed in the brain. Worldwide, schizophrenia is one of the top 15 leading causes of disability, affecting about 1% of […]
Ancient viruses have left behind traces in our DNA. Researchers believe these contribute to neurological conditions. Could inhibiting our viral passengers pave the way for future treatments? What links neurological conditions and ancient viruses? Transposable elements, which scientists also call transposons or jumping genes, are stretches of DNA that harbor the ability to move around […]
People’s language could reveal clues about their future risk of developing psychosis. Scientists concluded this after studying the subtle features of people’s everyday speech. Subtle differences in word use can indicate psychosis risk, and machine learning can help identify it. Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and Harvard University in Boston, MA, used a […]
The current schizophrenia treatments rely on antipsychotic drugs that come with unwanted side effects. However, new research has found that a chemical called sulforaphane could reduce and even prevent symptoms of the condition. Broccoli sprouts contain a chemical that may alleviate schizophrenia. Many people with schizophrenia experience hallucinations and delusions that can significantly impact their […]
A person can experience visual hallucinations for many reasons, including consuming hallucinogenic substances or as a symptom of schizophrenia. But what are the brain mechanisms that explain hallucinations? New research aims to reveal more about how hallucinations manifest in the brain. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines hallucinations as “perception-like experiences […]
New research finds that vitamin D deficiency affects a type of brain “scaffolding” that supports the neurons. This finding could lead to new therapies for the neurological symptoms of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. Our bodies produce vitamin D in response to sun exposure. New research helps explain why this vitamin is key for […]
Researchers pin down the faulty brain circuitry that drives negative symptom severity in schizophrenia and look at noninvasive methods of targeting and “repairing” this breakdown. A new study identifies the brain network that drives the severity of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental health condition with characteristic symptoms that include delusions and hallucinations. […]
Scientists have located an intriguing link between schizophrenia and the Epstein-Barr virus, a type of herpes virus. Now, they need to determine which way the risk lies. A new study may have found another environmental risk factor linked to schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, a condition characterized by a confused perception of reality, delusions, and altered behavior, affects […]