Schizophrenia alters not only the brain but also the body

byEdu Lauton

Schizophrenia is said to affect human thoughts, emotions and behavior, but the latest research showed that not only the brain but also the "body" will change due to schizophrenia.

Is psychosis a multisystem disorder? A meta-review of central nervous system, immune, cardiometabolic, and endocrine alterations in first-episode psychosis and perspective on potential models | Molecular Psychiatry
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0058-9

Schizophrenia could be physically changing the body, not just the brain
https://www.sciencealert.com/schizophrenia-might-affect-your-body-not-just-your-brain

In previous studies, patients with schizophrenia compared with the general populationIt is likely to suffer physical disorderAnd that it died 15 to 20 years earlier than the average life expectancy. For this reason, the association between antipsychotic drug use and body weight gain and type 2 diabetes has been recognized, so the health loss of schizophrenic patients has been thought to be a side effect of illness It was.

However, despite not taking antipsychotic drugs in recent years, there are reports of schizophrenic patients in which physical changes such as abnormality of the immune system are seen.

there,South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustHe is a doctorKings College London Psychiatry InstituteOf clinical research fellowsToby PillingerResearch teams by Mr. et al. Conducted investigations. From multiple studies done in the past it is necessary to investigate signs of physical changes such as the presence of inflammation in early schizophrenic patients, hormonal levels, risk factors for heart disease, levels of glucose and cholesterol, It compared with the signs of. At the same time, the research team also examined data such as the level of chemical substances in the brain and the state of activity of the brain.

As a result, the research team showed that early schizophrenia is related not only to the structure and function of the brain but also to various physical changes. At this time, with the brain and the bodyEffect amountThere is no difference in effect size, and it is indicated that schizophrenia is a systemic disease affecting not only the brain but also the whole body, and it is necessary to review the way of future treatment.

byMariano Cuajao

Pillinger shows three hypotheses, although it is not clear how changes in the brains of patients with schizophrenia correlate with physical changes.

First, it is said that physical dysfunction causes changes in the brain and finally causes schizophrenia. Certain types of cancers are known to produce antibodies and target the brain to cause mental disorders, which is the first hypothesis. In the case of cancer, if the tumor is removed, the condition of the mental disorder will improve.

Second, the idea that physical health is impaired by schizophrenia. The idea that stress of mental disorder increases the level of cortisol, it is related to an increase in body weight, diabetes, and blood pressure rise is the basis of the second hypothesis.

byKathryn

The third is that the symptoms of schizophrenia and physical health loss are brought about by different mechanisms. It is said that children of mothers who experienced hunger tend to become diabetes and schizophrenia after becoming adults. Depending on the nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy, the developmental condition of the child's brain is influenced, and the risk of schizophrenia increases. On the other hand, the ability of children to metabolize glucose is also affected by the mother's nutritional status. Thus, it is the basis of the third hypothesis that different mechanisms are influenced by common risk factors.

One of the major causes of schizophrenia patients with early death is heart disease. Even with research in recent years, we have not succeeded in prolonging the life span of schizophrenia patients and further research is required.