Mental illness link is found.SCIENTISTS have made a discovery which could lead us to a better understanding of why some people suffer from schizophrenia schizophrenia (skĭt'səfrē`nēə), group of severe mental disorders characterized by reality distortions resulting in unusual thought patterns and behaviors. .Research by experts at Newcastle Newcastle, city, Australia Newcastle, city (1991 pop. 262,331), New South Wales, SE Australia, on the Pacific Ocean. It is the center of one of the country's largest coal-mining areas and is a large port. Coal, wool, iron and steel, and wheat are exported. University has shown there is a link between a lack of specific brain receptors and the mental illness. The team has found that NMDA receptors are essential in modifying electrical wave patterns in the brain which are altered in patients with schizophrenia. They now want to further investigate the function of the receptors, already known to be involved in making memories, which could lead to a new way of treating the mental illness. Schizophrenia is one of the most common serious mental health conditions in the UK. Dr Mark Cunningham, who led the research, said: "We have shown that by selectively targeting receptors we can modify the dynamics of the brain. "Our hope would be that this could lead to a method for actually improving brain function." |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion