Further Evidence to Suggest Schizophrenia is a Neurodegenerative Disease
Increased evidence suggests Schizophrenia may be neurodegenerative. A new study shows the aging communication between two important parts of the brain. This miscommunication between the frontoparietal network, which serves to decode spatial and non-spatial information, and the cingulo-opercular network, deteriorates more quickly when psychosis is introduced. While these results are somewhat scary, it’s important we recognize this possibility and use it to better our interventions where first-time psychotic episodes are concerned.
“The finding that the decline in network efficiency appeared to begin after illness onset is particularly important for the potential to disrupt this progression. “With advances in cognitive remediation and the positive impact of exercise on connectivity of these networks, our findings provide hope that young adults with recent onset psychosis will benefit from interventions bolstering connectivity within these networks, potentially slowing down or normalizing the rate of decline in efficiency and, therefore, cognitive function” Elsevier
Elsevier. (2019, February 7). Normal brain aging patterns occur at a faster rate in people with psychosis: Accelerated aging of cognitive networks after illness onset offers potential for early intervention. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2019 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190207111314.htm
