Cause of schizophrenia found in underdeveloped brain area

[Ah Xoc Kin]

Sep. 11, 2008
The underdevelopment of a specific region in the brain may lead to schizophrenia in individuals. According to research published today in BioMed Central’s open access journal Molecular Brain, dentate gyrus, which is located in the hippocampus in the brain and thought to be responsible for working memory and mood regulation, remained immature in an animal model of schizophrenia.

First, the team investigated behaviors by conducting a systematic and well-defined behavioral test battery with alpha-CaMKII mutant mice, an animal model of schizophrenia. These mice showed abnormal behaviors similar to those of schizophrenic patients.

Next, the team found the dentate gyrus neurons in hippocampus of the brain of these mice were not matured morphologically and physiologically. By a gene expression analysis, changes of gene expression related to the maturation of dentate gyrus neurons were also found in the brains of schizophrenic patients.

Taken together, the immaturity of the dentate gyrus may be an underlying cause for schizophrenia.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080910133341.htm

[ensho]

1. interesting research, thank you

nt

[Blaze Diem]

2. amazing breakthroug. Hope this leads the way for curative research.

Many with this illness of the brain end up in prisons or existing on the street. Perhaps a cure someday would allow them to be productive people, living out their dreams and potential.
Thanks for posting.

[pacalo]

3. This news is encouraging.

There are a number of other articles about schizophrenia on that page & I thank you for posting.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Igel]

4. Timely.

My wife's reading up on everything she can find at the intersection of bipolar disorder, psychosis, and schizophrenia. This'll be added to the hopper.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Has she been to this site yet? I really

have found it very useful in understanding my own diagnosis: http://psycheducation.org/

[Sequoia]

6. Question.

Can someone who is a manic depressive/bi-polar be misdiagnosed as schizophrenic be given drugs, shock treatment, etc. to actually bring it on?