NARSAD Grantee Makes New Discovery About Brain Malfunction in Schizophrenia

NARSAD Grantee Makes New Discovery About Brain Malfunction in Schizophrenia

Posted: January 5, 2012

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Studies led by NARSAD Young Investigator Grantee Elizabeth Thomas, Ph.D. at Scripps Research Institute show that DNA is too tightly wound in certain brain cells of schizophrenic patients. This is a new discovery of an epigenetic change (a change in the way DNA functions without changing a person's DNA code), and one that is especially pronounced in younger people, indicating that early intervention is key to minimizing or even reversing symptoms of schizophrenia.

Dr. Thomas states: “We’re excited by the findings, and there’s a tie to other drug development work, which could mean a faster track to clinical trials to exploit what we've found.”


Read more about the studies