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Team Identifies Autoantibody That May Cause Schizophrenia
Understanding the complexities of schizophrenia is crucial for developing effective treatments. Recently, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) shed light on a potential piece of the puzzle—a newly identified autoantibody linked to this disorder. Published in Cell Reports Medicine, their study unveils how this autoantibody, produced by the immune system and targeting the body's own tissues, may contribute to schizophrenia. As scientists delve deeper into the autoimmune aspects of schizophrenia, exploring factors like inflammation markers and the impact of substances like cannabis and psychedelics, they aim to refine treatment approaches and enhance our understanding of this challenging condition.
"Schizophrenia is a disorder that affects how people act, think, and perceive reality. It is often very difficult to treat because it has many different causes and symptoms. In a study published last month in Cell Reports Medicine, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have identified an autoantibody—a protein that is produced by the immune system to attach to a specific substance from the individual’s own body, rather than to a foreign substance like a virus or bacteria—..."
Autoimmunity has been shown to be the basis of an ever-increasing number of human diseases. Schizophrenia shares a number of genetic features with these autoimmune diseases and therefore could be an autoimmune disease itself. Several lines of evidence suggest that overactivity of dopaminergic pathways in some areas of the brain are involved in schizophrenia, but the apparent absence of an increase in dopamine turnover suggests that this hyperactivity could be mediated by a dopamine agonist rather than by dopamine itself.
"Marijuana is the common term for cannabis that is derived from the plant Cannabis sativa. This plan has hundreds of chemicals in it called cannabinoids. The two main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant that we’ve studies are Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC and cannabidiol or CBD. THC has mind altering properties and CBD does not."
"The reason cannabis has an effect in the body is that cannabinoids are neurotransmitters or chemicals that affect the activities of nerves..."
Just one moderate dose of psilocybinopens in a new tab or window (0.215 mg/kg body weight) -- commonly known as magic mushrooms -- was associated with a 13-point drop in depressive symptom severity versus placebo, lasting at least 2 weeks. (eClinicalMedicine)
Parental leave from work for postpartum mothers, especially paid leave for a minimum of 2 to 3 months, was protective against poor mental healthopens in a new tab or window. (Lancet Public Health)
Research findings supporting the use of antipsychotic medication for acute treatment of schizophrenia are relatively consistent and undisputed. However, the rationale for recommending long-term antipsychotic medication treatment - the current standard of care treatment strategy-- is unclear. A controversial hypothesis proposed recently suggests people with schizophrenia who are exposed to long-term treatment with antipsychotic medications have worse outcomes than people with schizophrenia who are not exposed to these medications.
Psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and mescaline exhibit intense effects on the human brain and behaviour. In recent years, there has been a surge in studies investigating these drugs because clinical studies have shown that these once banned drugs are well tolerated and efficacious in medically supervised low doses called microdosing. Psychedelics have demonstrated efficacy in treating neuropsychiatric maladies such as difficult to treat anxiety, depression, mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, suicidal ideation, posttraumatic stress disorder, and also in treating substance use disorders.