SCHIZOPHRENIA sufferers could get much earlier treatment thanks to top
scientists.
Researchers at
The collaborative study found patients with schizophrenia have abnormally
high levels of glucose in their brain and spinal fluid.
The findings - called biomarkers - will help identify patients who have
these physical traits before the onset of some of the extreme characteristics
of the disorder.
Schizophrenia affects 1 per cent of the population and the current method of
diagnosis is based on clinical interviews and observations and patients must
show symptoms for at least six months.
Dr Sabine Bahn, from the university's biotechnology institute, said:
"These biomarkers could enable us to develop new early or pre-symptomatic
treatments to improve outcomes or even prevent disease symptoms."
The study was conducted in partnership with the University of Cologne,
Germany, and Imperial College London. The team of scientists analysed
cerebrospinal fluid from 152 volunteers.
Of these, 54 had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia, 70 were
healthy, and 28 were receiving some form of treatment.
Scientists found changes in the way the body metabolised glucose in the
group of 54 volunteers, when compared to the group without schizophrenia.
The schizophrenic patients appeared to use a lactate as a different energy
source - other than glucose which is the main energy source for humans.
During the study, the glucose levels of the schizophrenic patients' brains
were observed to be abnormally high as it is not being used effectively.
It is hoped early method of diagnosis will now lead to earlier treatment for
sufferers.