Sumber: Kompasiana
2. It may be possible to prevent schizophrenia by calming the
brain's immune system, say scientists.
Brain scans found an overactive immune system in patients as well as
in those at high risk of schizophrenia.
The UK Medical Research Council team wants to test anti-inflammatory
drugs to treat or even prevent the disease.
Other experts in the field said the study, in the American Journal of
Psychiatry, was "important" and furthered understanding of the illness.
There has been mounting evidence that the immune system and
inflammation play a key role in schizophrenia and other psychiatric
conditions.
The researchers analysed microglia, which are like the brain's own
gardeners weeding out infection but also "pruning" unwanted
connections between brain cells.
A chemical dye which sticks to microglia was injected into 56 people to
record their microglia activity.
The highest level was found in patients with the condition, but those
deemed at high risk of developing schizophrenia also showed
heightened activity levels.
Image copyrightMRCImage captionBrain scans show higher levels of
microglia activity (orange) in people with schizophrenia
Dr Oliver Howes, the head of the psychiatric imaging group at the MRC
Clinical Sciences Centre, told the BBC News website: "This is a real step
forward in understanding.
"For the first time we have evidence that there is over-activity even
before full onset of the illness.
"If we could reduce activity [before full-blown illness] then we might be
able to prevent the illness - that needs to be tested, but is one key
implication [of the research]."
He thinks the microglia become like a gardener too keen with the
shears and sever the wrong connections in the brain leaving it wired
incorrectly.
"You can see how that would lead to patients making unusual
connections between what is happening around them or mistaking
thoughts as voices outside their head and causing the symptoms we
see in the illness," Dr Howes added.