The Biomarkers Behind Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a degenerative neurological disease that targets and disrupts emotions, thought processes, and behavior throughout long periods of time for individuals. Researchers have tried to understand this disorder in the past by doing studies to understand the processes of this disease. In addition, to understand the underlying causes of the degradation that occurs. Currently, there is still much more information about schizophrenia that still needs to be understood. One particular study, Progressive Deterioration of Thalamic Nuclei Relates to Cortical Network Decline in Schizophrenia, by Lei Wang, determined specific areas of the brain where this degradation occurred. This study made it conceivable to acknowledge that there are a lot of aspects that concern this disease and they can be studied in order to help individuals that are struggling with the disease.

The thalamic and cortical regions of the brain are what helps to regulate emotional and cognitive functions. These areas are hindered in people that have schizophrenia. The study that was done compared certain thalamic and cortical nuclei in people without the disease to people that have it. This comparison in nuclei helped to determine how it relates to clinical symptoms and cognitive function. Abnormalities within the longitudinal thalamic regions of the brain were found to be related to degenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia. Abnormal shapes of the nuclei were found in specific subdivisions of the longitudinal thalamic regions. These subdivisions consisted of the mediodorsal, pulvinar, and anterior nuclei. Based on the behavioral phenotype of schizophrenia, researchers were able to determine that these three subdivisions would have continuous deterioration. The results also showed a difference in volume of the thalamic regions. They were a factor in comparing the brains of people with the disease and without the disease. Individuals with the disease had a larger loss in volume, especially in the bilateral mediodorsal nuclei and the anterior nuclei by surface deformation than in individuals without the disease.  This study helped to narrow down the aspects of schizophrenia so that later research can be done to futher the knowledge and understanding of schizophrenia.

A more recent study was done that focused on the genetic variants of schizophrenia. These specific genetic variants were found to play a major role in the development of disease. N-methyl-D-aspartate is an amino acid derivative which is fundamental in cognitive and behavioral function. Abnormalities found in NMDAR are strongly related to symptoms that are caused by schizophrenia due to the genetic variants that reduce the amino acid from functioning properly. The study focused on a computer program which predicted the results of genetic variants within three specific genes, GRIN1, GRIN2A, GRIN2B. FYN was known to control the functioning of NMDAR. The variants were compared to DNA sequencing that was normal with no abnormalities. It was found that those genes in excess were disturbing the natural function of NMDAR within individuals with schizophrenia. This comparison showed the predictability of specific variants that could change the amino acid sequence it coded for or even prevent gene expression resulting in disfunction. The results found were similar to other studies which showed a correlation between NMDAR functioning and schizophrenia patients in which NMDAR function was impaired and abnormal.

Both articles show that more research is being done to understand schizophrenia. Particular nuclei in regions of the brain are being targeted in this degenerative disease within the thalamic and cortical regions. Also, part of the deterioration is causing shape deformation in the brain because of loss of volume. In addition, the NMDAR amino acid contributes greatly in the knowledge and understanding of schizophrenia due to its disfunction which causes risks for diseases as such. With new research that is being brought to the light, researchers could be able to target all sources of the cause of deterioration and some day might be able to inhibit the degeneration of nuclei and/or reverse the affects of NMDAR disfunction so that individuals would be able to live a better life without the disease or the disease can be significantly induced.

University College London. (2019, January 18). Genetic variants implicated in development of schizophrenia. Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190118083203.htm