Biological 2) Enlarged Ventricles Flashcards
What have scans shown?
Scans have shown structural abnormalities in the brains of those with schizophrenia, particularly centres on the ventricles.
What are ventricles?
Ventricles are naturally occurring fluid-filled cavities within the brain.
Davis et al.
Proposes abnormal dopamine levels vary by brain region.
Weinberger
Enlargement of ventricles in those with schizophrenia.
Torrey
Ventricles in schizophrenics are 15% larger.
Lambert and Kinsley
Reason for enlargement of ventricles is that schizophrenics have small brain lobes and abnormal blood flow to the brain.
What is the amphetamine link?
Amphetamines can work the symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is the Parkinson link?
There is a relationship between side effects of the drugs used to treat schizophrenia and symptoms of Parkinson’s.
What is difficult for researchers?
Researchers cannot claim with certainty that the main biological causes are because of dopamine or serotonin levels or enlarged ventricles, only that the latter are prevalent in some schizophrenics.
Ho et al.
Confirms that schizophrenics that with large ventricles often have unmanageable symptoms.
(New Research)
What is the new “turning point”?
The “pruning” of unwanted connections in the brains neurons as result of a defective gene.
What is the view of WHO?
Half of the people living with schizophrenia don’t receive care for the condition.
Existing drugs don’t get to the root of the problem.
What is the view of Harvard Medical School?
Since first described, schizophrenia’s underlying biology has been “a black box”, in part because it has been virtually impossible to model it in cells or animals, until now.
Significance of cortex?
People with schizophrenia tend to have a thinner cerebral cortex.
Prevention?
Latest research suggests a rogue version of the gene strips away too much material.
There are hopes the breakthrough will lead to preventative medication and early treatment.
