Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that often manifests with hallucinations, delusions and cognitive impairment. But did you know that some changes seen in the brains of older adults are surprisingly similar to those found in individuals with schizophrenia?
As we age, our brain cells undergo various transformations. These changes can affect how our brain functions, including our memory, thinking and behaviour. In individuals with schizophrenia, similar alterations occur, leading to cognitive decline and other symptoms characteristic of the disorder.
A recent study published in Nature sheds light on these shared brain changes between schizophrenia and ageing. Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Harvard Medical School, and McLean Hospital analysed gene activity in brain tissue from individuals with schizophrenia and older adults without the disorder.
They discovered a remarkable similarity in gene expression patterns, particularly in two types of brain cells – astrocytes and neurons. These cells showed reduced expression of genes related to synapses, the junctions between neurons, in both individuals with schizophrenia and older adults.
The team termed these co-ordinated changes the Synaptic Neuron and Astrocyte Programme (SNAP). Even in healthy, young individuals, SNAP gene expression followed a synchronised pattern in neurons and astrocytes.
Understanding SNAP could pave the way for new treatments for schizophrenia and age-related cognitive decline. By identifying factors that positively influence SNAP, researchers hope to develop therapies that enhance cognitive function and flexibility.
But the surprises didn’t end there. SNAP varied greatly among individuals, suggesting its involvement in cognitive differences in healthy humans. As researchers delve deeper into SNAP’s role in various brain conditions and its impact on learning and cognitive flexibility, they continue to unlock the mysteries of the human brain.
Who knew that our brain cells could have such a captivating storyline? So, next time you misplace your keys or forget a name, remember, it’s all in the SNAP of your brain’s synapses!
The author is a postdoctoral researcher at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
(ammar.shakr@gmail.com)