The new research about causes of schizophrenia, about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia are made. And most of them are based in studying the brain and his activity. Neurotransmitters, substances that allow communication between nerve cells, have long been thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. In present they are an important point of research. Dopamine and glutamate neurotransmitters are probably involved in causes of schizophrenia.
Several studies was made on mice. The symptoms of schizophrenia may be caused by high levels of the chemical glutamate in the brain. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter, one of a group of chemicals that pass messages between nerve cells. Giving mice phencyclidine (PCP), which increases the transmission of glutamate between neurons in the brain, they develop behavioral abnormalities (like schizophrenic patients). They become agitated and less adept at performing tasks that involve short term memory and decision making skills.
Finding this, the next step was to find a medicine to stop or the transmission of glutamate, or to come down the levels of dopamine in the brain. This is what the new type of antipsychotics are trying to do.
The new atypical antipsychotics include risperidone (Risperdal), clozapine (Clozaril), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), and ziprasidone (Geodon). From this, clozapine can undo the effects that PCP cause on mice. Also, the new class of antipsychotics have fewer side effects than the classic have.
Another study was made by administrating the amino acids glycine and D-serine to patients that were having standard medication. This patients showed improvement in positive symptoms and decline in cognitive and negative symptoms. D-cycloserine, a medicine that is used treating tuberculosis, have similar effects with those amino acids, and it could be useful in treating schizophrenia too.
In present the treatment of schizophrenia is having an important improvement and the symptoms of schizophrenia are very well controlled.
By: John Conrad
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