By Science News Staff Dec. 17, 2020 , 2:00 PM Welcome to Science’s latest crossword puzzle, marking our 2020 Breakthrough … Published. SCIENTISTS have made a major breakthrough in the treatment for schizophrenia following one of the biggest studies of its kind. “This discovery enriches our understanding of the complement system in brain development and in disease, and we could not have made that leap without the genetics,” says study coauthor Beth Stevens, of the Department of Neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital. -AMAZONPOLLY-ONLYWORDS-END- “To find immune cells along the blood brain barrier in increased amounts in people with schizophrenia is an exciting discovery. In one of the biggest breakthroughs in schizophrenia research in recent times, Professor Cynthia Shannon Weickert at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) has identified immune cells in greater amounts in the brains of some people with schizophrenia. O n December 23, the FDA approved a new drug for schizophrenia, lumateperone, which was said to be a “first-in-class” medication, suggesting that its mechanism of action differed from antipsychotic drugs in current use. “The same proteins are doing one thing in the periphery for immunity, and another thing in the brain,” says McCarroll. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional, Understanding the genetic roots of schizophrenia, identified more than 100 areas of the human genome, Specific C4 structures linked to increased schizophrenia risk, C4 ‘prunes’ synapses to increase schizophrenia risk, A ‘crucial turning point in the fight against mental illness’, Through my eyes: Adjusting to life with a spinal cord injury. Ingelheim, Germany, 14 September 2020 – Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the results from a 12-week, placebo-controlled Phase II trial, that demonstrated BI 425809 has met its primary endpoint.The data showed improvement in cognition in stable adult patients with schizophrenia. NeuRA Media Department +61(0)409225447 or media@neura.edu.au, Katrina Usman +61(0)432760940 or k.usman@neura.edua.au. This discovery shows that specific immune cells are in the brains of some people with schizophrenia in close enough proximity to the neurons to do damage. This is a question that has challenged scientists since the disorder was first identified almost 130 years ago. In July 2014, the Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium – including investigators from the Stanley Center – identified more than 100 areas of the human genome that are linked to the disorder. And it is no wonder scientists are so excited; discovering that the C4 gene may play a key role in a person’s risk of schizophrenia may open the door to strategies that prevent the illness. 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM ZOOM with check in from 8:00 to 8:30 PM Program from 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM Course Director: KN Roy Chengappa, MD Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, dysfunctional thought processes and agitated body movements. The researchers explain that C4 genes have significant variability in their structure, meaning the number of copies and variants of the gene can differ from person to person. In some cases, the person is already symptomatic, and due to being exposed to an extremely traumatic experience, an existing mental health condition becomes exacerbated and symptoms intensify. For their study, recently published in the journal Nature, the team set out to gain a better understanding of how C4 works in the brain. Find out also how an…, Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare genetic condition that results in mental and physical disabilities. Shares of Alkermes are up nicely after positive data from its schizophrenia drug trial. The team says their findings may explain why schizophrenia tends to develop in late adolescence or early adulthood; excessive synaptic pruning caused by increased C4 activity at this point in time may trigger symptom onset. Patients with schizophrenia commonly experience negative … “In this area of science, our dream has been to find disease mechanisms that lead to new kinds of treatments,” says McCarroll. According to the statistics nearly 100,000 Australians have psychosis. “But I’m almost giddy about these findings.”. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute have found the gene that may be responsible for schizophrenia. The team was surprised by their results; they found that specific C4 gene structures could predict C4 gene activity in the brain. Now, McCarroll and colleagues have built on these findings, identifying a specific gene that appears to have the strongest association with schizophrenia risk. What causes schizophrenia? “We think this may cause the endothelial cells to extend sticky tentacles, so when the immune cells travel by some are captured. They aim to find out more about how C4 contributes to synaptic pruning, and to determine whether such pruning may play a role in other neurological conditions. Lack of understanding in this area has hampered the discovery of a cure or preventive strategies for schizophrenia; current treatments – such as antipsychotic medications – can only focus on eliminating symptoms. We're supporting people to maintain their wellbeing and manage isolation. In Schizophrenia’s Wake, a Son Laments the Father Who Might Have Been Emerson Hart is a singer-songwriter. In detail, the researchers found that the more a C4 gene structure led to the expression of the variant C4A in the brain, the greater a person’s risk of schizophrenia. The researchers adapted a molecular genetics technique previously used in mouse models to study the “pruning” of synapses – the connections between brain cells, or neurons – and the role of C4 in the immune system. Because the molecular origins of psychiatric diseases are little-understood, efforts by pharmaceutical companies to pursue new therapeutics are few and far between. Possible Alzheimer's breakthrough suggested Date: January 22, 2020 Source: Case Western Reserve University Summary: By James Gallagher Health reporter, BBC News. It suggests immune cells themselves may be producing these inflammatory signals in the brains of people living with schizophrenia,” said Professor Shannon Weickert. Professor Shannon Weickert said immune cells have previously been ignored as they had long been viewed simply as travelers just thought to be passing by, undertaking surveillance work. Apr. One in every 100 Australians lives with schizophrenia. Explore and learn more about related title Schizophrenia Bulletin Open, an online-only, fully Open Access journal publishing in 2020. Richard Pops, Alkermes CEO, provides insight to the enormous market for schizophrenia and depression. ... January 13, 2020. Recent Supplements. “We have observed in people with schizophrenia, … ... on this new genetic breakthrough. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling.People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment. 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