A team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia just discovered that our immune system is “linked” to schizophrenia via a brain-blood barrier.
A team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia just discovered that our immune system is “linked” to schizophrenia via a brain-blood barrier.
Newer therapies will now focus on the immune response system possibly creating a breakthrough. The implications of this research are good news for those suffering from the disease. To understand why this is groundbreaking, schizophrenia must be explored and explained in-depth and with sensitivity because it is under the general category of “psychosis”.
People with schizophrenia have a difficult time thinking logically and recognizing reality. This leads them to have a hard time behaving naturally in most social situations.
At first, this appears like it could be anyone at any given time, not know where they are or behaving strangely in social spaces but schizophrenia is categorized as a mental disease because it can affect day-to-day living.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, “1 in 100 people are affected by schizophrenia”, making it common. It can also start as early as childhood and progress through adulthood, displaying negative and/or positive symptoms.
Those with schizophrenia may display what’s called “positive and negative” symptoms. For instance, those with positive symptoms will display signs of delirium and disorganized speech while negative symptoms are indicated by diminished expressions and trouble being productive.
More specifically, schizophrenia can manifest in more pronounced ways:
Some other common negative symptoms are neglecting hygiene, not making eye contact, withdrawing socially, etc.
Again, with psychosis disorders it can be misconstrued for something that is normal but it depends on many factors.
One of those factors is age. Schizophrenia typically begins around age 20 or mid-20s for men while women may show signs of the disease in their late 20s. It is uncommon for those over the age of 45 to have schizophrenia and rare for children.
Teenagers are a unique group because although they will display similar symptoms as adults, one can never be sure. Teenagers usually will withdraw from friends and family, have odd sleeping patterns, and lack motivation.
These teens would be called depressed but due to their age group it may not necessarily be schizophrenia.
It is known that several genes “increase the risk” of getting schizophrenia as this affects brain development. Also, in the latest news, there could be a correlation between our immune response system and schizophrenia.
Recreational drugs like marijuana and the like can definitely cause similar signs and symptoms. In teens symptoms like hallucinations would be present, but delusions would be absent.
There will be continuous research linking genes and environment to schizophrenia but what is known is that family history, viruses, and psychotropic drugs could increase the potential for having schizophrenia.
Psychosis treatment tends to be more diverse than focused on just one form of treatment. Unfortunately, all one can do is focus on managing schizophrenic symptoms through:
Antipsychotic drugs are an option and typically will be taken while incorporating talk therapy or other therapies to increase healing.
Right now there are no known cures or prevention methods for schizophrenia. Doctors and scientists do suggest that if taking treatments for schizophrenia, keep up the treatments to prevent the disease from getting worse.
Also, staying away from recreational drugs will lessen chances of schizophrenic episodes as well.
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