NARSAD Grantee Makes New Discovery About Brain Malfunction in Schizophrenia

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